Revolts and Rebellions: Parliamentary Voting Under Blair |
 |
 click here for more details, find new or used items |
Philip Cowley
|
|
Pages: 276 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 1842750291
Pub: Politico's Publishing Ltd
Pub date: 2002-06-01
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 458082
Reader Reviews:
PLEASE IGNORE THE COVER OF THIS BOOK! (4/4 people found this helpful)
If you can get beyond a cover which appears to show the Campaign Group's mid-70s Top of the Pops appearance you will find an assiduously researched and entertainingly written account of parliamentary behaviour during the Blair governments.
Firstly, 'Revolts & Rebellions' serves as an extremely useful document of record, with chapters outlining the backbench Labour rebellions that occurred between 1997 and 2001. Importantly however, the book goes on to analyse and explain these events.
A central feature of the author's argument is that we must go beyond the media's familiar but misleading complaint that the Labour backbenches have been stuffed with meek sheep or pager-led daleks. With the aid of statistical analysis of MPs' voting and insightful information gleaned from over 150 interviews, Philip Cowley proceeds to explain why some MPs choose to rebel, and, just as importantly why some do not. Here the interviews conducted with MPs prove invaluable in recording how many rebellions were dealt with behind the scenes and away from the floor of the House of Commons. Also included are useful chapters devoted to the conduct of the record number of women MPs and the activities of the opposition parties (indeed so thorough is this book, the one independent MP, Martin Bell, gets his own appendix!).
This intelligent, well-researched book deserves a wide readership: MPs will find an analysis of their behaviour which treats them as grown-up human-beings; students of parliament and British politics will find an in-depth account of parliamentary life under Blair, and a counter-weight to the media's sometimes sloppy reporting of it; and, for those who have to deal with politicians professionally, or are simply represented by them, 'Revolts & Rebellions' offers an accessible and first-class insight into how and why MPs behave as they do.
Similar Products
The Rebels: How Blair Mislaid His Majority
Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Society, Politics & Philosophy -> Government & Politics -> Countries & Regions -> UK -> Political Parties -> Labour Party
Books -> Special Features -> 34% off Books over £10 -> Society, Politics & Philosophy