Servants of the People [Paperback]

Andrew Rawnsley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0140278508 | ISBN-13: 978-0140278507 | Publication Date: January 2002

'Downing Street is said to be 'furious' at this book - and it is easy to understand why. It is the first meticulous chronicle of all that has happened since that bright May Day three years ago which first brought the Blair government to office' - Anthony Howard, "Sunday Times".

Editorial Reviews

Review

"* 'The most readable contemporary history to be written since New Labour was elected' Roy Hattersley, Observer * 'Riveting... the Government's dirty washing has been well and truly hung out in public' Rachel Sylvester, Daily Telegraph"

About the Author

Andrew Rawnsley is Associate Editor and chief political columnist for the Observer. He has also made a string of critically acclaimed television programmes for Channel 4 and presents Radio 4's Westminster Hour. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Penguin UK (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140278508
• ISBN-13: 978-0140278507
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,842,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A seemingly authentic whiff of the corridors of power..., March 27, 2001

By 

"ljhutchins" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Servants of the People (Hardcover)

It must be true - the spin doctors slammed it! Rawnsley, a respected political journalist and commentator, got a strong reaction when this book was published with some very senior figures indeed coming forward to rubbish it. For anyone who hasn't read it that may give an unfair impression of a book which struck me at least as an attempt at a reasonable and balanced account of the early fortunes of Britain's first Labour government in decades. Rawnsley is happy to give praise where it is due - for Tony Blair's intervention in the Northern Ireland peace process for example. It was also billed as a bright light shone into the darkest corners of the Labour Party and this too underplays its strengths. Rawnsley turns his expertise to deconstructing the 'New Labour' phenomenon and examining the extraordinary current of feeling which propelled Blair into Number 10. Gordon Brown, Britain's 'Iron Chancellor', is also under the microscope and the relationship between the two provides a central, and controversial, feature of the book. It's got its share of scandal and gossip, it's written with a disrespectful humour, and many of its conclusions may be contentious. Also the anonymity of many sources is preserved, so the reader can't judge their validity. But it's a cracking read, convincing and entertaining. Is it true? Well, there's an anecdote about how Blair and his press henchman Alistair Campbell were thrown into a flurry on election night by their own unexpected success. The two men were on their way to the Labour victory rally in Blair's newly-acquired armoured car. Blair jumped out of the car while it was still moving and Cambell, following out of duty, had his foot run over by the heavy vehicle. The stuff of farce - but later confirmed by Campbell...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The hilarious side of British politics, October 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Servants of the People (Paperback)

This is a well-researched and riotously funny account of the first term of Tony Blair's premiership (1997-2001). The author is a prominent political columnist for a leftish newspaper in the UK and has an extremely rich array of New Labour contacts, so his information comes straight from the horses' mouths. The style of Rawnsley's writing, however, is what makes this book such a gem: it's straightforward reporting mixed with wry wit and the regular puncturing of politicians' most cherished illusions about themselves. I defy any reader to keep a straight face at the end of the chapter on the foot and mouth crisis, in which Blair desperately maneuvers to save the life of an especially popular calf ("Phoenix") after having overseen the slaughter of thousands of less photogenic victims. Some familiarity with the British system of government is probably helpful, but it is possible to pick up quite a bit from context. Anyone who enjoys watching "Yes, Minister" reruns on PBS is almost guaranteed to like this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Servants of the People, August 1, 2011

By 

Casper Denck (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Servants of the People (Paperback)

At the time of publication New Labour had just emerged from the first of what would be three general election wins and the cult of New Labour was still relatively fresh. It is pointing out then that this is not a book about the New Labour Project but about New Labour in power. The former, which would be a fascinating book in it own right would surely have to place a great deal more emphasis on the period of New Labour on the Opposition benches (1994-1997) and, just as importantly, on the history of the Labour Party in the second half of the twentieth century.

As it is, Rawnsley effectively starts the book in May 1997 with the the first of many stage choreographed `walk of triumph' into No 10 by `call me Tony' Blair. This is a shame because, had the context been given the emphasis on the context out of which Blair was taking the Labour Party then the emphasis Rawnsley places on Blair's obsessive spin control and the determination to secure a second term (as so few Labour Governments had done previously) would be more understandable.

Despite this omission there is a great deal to commend this book, even some ten years after initial publication. What I found fascinating about this was the different tenor of the first term. It is true that some of the later scandals over corruption and `buying cash for honours' etc were present in the first term, as evidence by the Bernie Ecclestone Affair there is also a great deal to appreciate about the first term. In particular the perseverance on the Good Friday Agreement, and the huge political gamble this represented, is quite rightly held up as a moment of where `the hand of history' was laid upon Blair.

In other areas too, such as Kosovo for example, Blair is shown to be an effective and dynamic leader who responds quickly and effectively to emerging situations even if, as in Kosovo, the effect of the legacy and legitimacy of the action is debatable ( it was after all, like Iraq, an action conducted outside of the purview of the UN).

By focussing on one pivotal event of Blair's premiership in each chapter Rawnsley provides an excellent glimpse into the workings, conflicts and contradictions and egos of the UK Government of 1997-2001. Each chapter is covered in some detail but is written punchingly. Very frequently I found myself deciding to read `just one more chapter'.

At the time of publication I suspect this book was predominately one for the westminster bubble and gossip-seekers but reading it a decade later it is also, I think, a useful piece of history in that there seems to be a clear sense of continuity (I strongly hesitate to say evolution) in how the later years of New Labour, particularly the authoritarian urge, would develop.

In sum, Servants of the People while not a complete record of the early years of New labour is an excellent and highly enjoyable book even reading it some 10 years after publication.