This is a very thoroughly researched and well written account of David Cameron's last five years in power, ending with the unexpected victory in the May general election. Seldon and Snowdon organise their material thematically rather than strictly chronologically, which I found helpful. Some reviewers have commented on the use of the historical present tense, personally I find this conveys an immediacy to the story.
So what is the overall verdict on Cameron? The authors feel he bears closest comparison with Stanley Baldwin, the dominant Conservative PM of the 1930s who also wrestled with the leftovers of economic turmoil - (though ultimately in the eyes of history is a somewhat discredited PM as he completely missed the rise of Hitler.) Cameron was an effective manager, argue Seldon and Snowdon, dominating his cabinet and lacking any serious rival - unlike most of the previous PMs, except Blair, who were continually under pressure due to real or supposed plots. Cameron's "shield" was the Chancellor George Osborne and their close relations was to be the rock on which the government was built, especially around the economy. Osborne emerges as a somewhat enigmatic character, fiercely loyal to his boss, but clearly with one eye very much on what happens next post his departure. Cameron's curious decision to announce he would not seek a third term as PM, communicated seemingly (?) accidentally while chopping carrots, may yet come back to haunt him if he becomes a lame duck as his second term evolves.
The authors defend Cameron against the charge that he "doesn't really believe in anything much" arguing that this was the case with most Tory PMs, with one rather notable exception (think female if you are stuck). They do critique him for surrounding himself with old friends, a "chumocracy". This tended to surround him as has been pointed out with people from similarly privileged backgrounds. The most spectacular failing here which is carefully and objectively examined was the curious decision not only to appoint Andy Coulson (previously Editor of a Murdoch paper) as Director of communications (ironically partly in an attempt to broaden the group around the PM) but most damagingly to then hang on to him in the teeth of ever increasing evidence that there were not only skeletons in his cupboard but the cupboard doors were about to burst open in a truly explosive fashion. Cameron of course was very close to his old friend, Charlie Brooks and through him to his wife.....Ironically of course by far the lowest point of his premiership was in the one area where Cameron had any prior experience...public relations.
But the most serious critique is of his socially "essay crisis" approach to decision making. As a historian, I know that this was a rather frequent occurrence at university - do nothing until the very last moment and then throw yourself into a frenzy of activity before collapsing for the next weeks essay. Seldon and Snowdon feel " tactical considerations could trump a strategic approach to decision making". For different reasons, both Scotland and the thorny question of EU relations fall squarely within this critique.
So far the critical. On the positive side, Cameron and team clearly learned a huge amount from the complete fiasco of the 2010 campaign, when competing "meta narratives " partly driven by the maverick Steve Hilton, led to a confused set of messages. Not so in 2015. Riding to the rescue came the iron willed Lyndon Crosby from Australia who imposed a central theme - that Labour would screw up the economy while the Tories offered security - and marched his troops to victory by ruthlessly eliminating all the confusion of five years before. While royally kebabbing the hapless Lib Dems en route to victory. As William Hague said after the negotiations to form the coalition " we have a government..but we might well have destroyed the Liberal party".
with Crosby, Cameron's hands off style worked well. He generally, with help from George Osborne, showed good judgement in picking key appointments. Mark Carney as Governor of the Bank of England being another good example. His delegation of the domestic front to Osborne allows him to focus, and this is a major theme of the book, on foreign affairs. "Like many PMs Cameron finds it easier dealing with people on his level in other countries than with subordinates in his own". In an acute comparison, the authors says foreign affairs fascinate him because "it is like being head boy of Britain". He enjoys cordial relations with most of the world leaders, particularly crucial are those with Obama and Merkel and these are examined in detail. You can read about other key event such as NHS reforms, education, the Scottish referendum, the EU, Libya and much more in the book.
A topic of great interest to me is David Cameron's Christian faith. He famously said that it was "like magic FM in the Chilterns, it fades in and out". If you will allow a quick name drop, I was in 2014 invited to number 10 Downing Street and heard Cameron talk about his Christian faith, especially in the context of the death of his severely disabled son, Ivan. (Incidentally, which I didn't know, his father who also passed away in the last few years, was also disabled). Only God knows where each one of us stands with him, but what I can say was that I found David Cameron's explanation of his faith convincing. In that context, the decision to make gay marriage a core plank of Conservative policy struck many Christians as, to put it in the politest way, an odd choice. Seldon and Snowdon explain it firstly that the depth of resistance within the party was hugely underestimated (good old liberal metropolitans again) and that once the policy was announced yet another "flip flop" was seen as impossible.
In summary, this is a brilliantly written account of the politics of the last 5 years, with a particular focus on the effectiveness of David Cameron as PM. S and S weigh up the evidence carefully and allow the reader tp form their own conclusion. There is nothing sensationalist or earth shattering, no sleazy anecdotes or smoking guns. What is particularly impressive is that regardless of your shade of political beliefs, the book I feel is scrupulously objective, painstakingly researched and effortlessly readable. Recommended.
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Top reviews from other countries
jeremy marshall
Well written and insightful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2015
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Best political bio I’ve read. Absolutely fascinating
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I Found Myself Wanting to Get to Brexit.
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