The Prime Ministers We Never Had: Success and Failure from Butler to Corbyn

Was Harold Wilson a bigger figure than Denis Healey? Was John Major more 'prime ministerial' than Michael Heseltine? What would Britain look like today if David Miliband had become Labour leader instead of his brother Ed? Would Jeremy Corbyn have done a better job of handling the Covid-19 pandemic than Boris Johnson?

In this piercing and original history, Steve Richards looks at eleven prime ministers we never had, examining what made each of these illustrious figures unique and why they failed to make the final leap to the top. Based on unprecedented access and interviews with figures like Roy Jenkins, Barbara Castle, Michael Portillo, the Miliband brothers and many more, this fascinating study of failure and success sheds new light on some of the most compelling characters in British public life.

Table of Contents:
1: Introduction 2: Rab Butler 3: Roy Jenkins 4: Barbara Castle 5: Denis Healey 6: Neil Kinnock 7: Michael Heseltine 8: Michael Portillo 9: Ken Clarke 10: David and Ed Miliband 11: Jeremy Corbyn 12: Conclusion

About the Author :
Steve Richards is a political columnist, journalist, and presenter. He regularly presents The Week in Westminster on BBC Radio 4 and has presented BBC radio series on Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May. He also presented the BBC TV programmes Leadership Reflections: The Modern Prime Ministers and Reflections: The Prime Ministers We Never Had. He has written for several national newspapers including the Guardian, the Independent and the Financial Times. He also presents a popular political one man show each year at the Edinburgh Festival and across the UK.

Review :
Excellent... Steve Richards is one of the shrewdest political commentators we have. Fascinating. [His] knowledge shines through... you will gain a lot of fascinating insight into British politics, both recent and historic. A better and more thought-provoking book than most of those about prime ministers. The essays in this book are thoughtful With Steve Richards applying his deep knowledge and firm political grasp we get a book that is as entertaining as it is elucidating. A gallery of losers, in one sense. But these are losers of rare political talent. With his usual insight, Steve Richards considers the fortunes of political stars who never made it to Number Ten... illuminating and entertaining. A brilliant and fascinating reminder of all the big beasts who could have led the country. A fascinating and original book that sheds new light on the forces that shape British politics. A story of slamming doors and sliding doors. Terrific insights on the great prime ministers we didn't have from one of the shrewdest political commentators we're lucky to have. A compelling account of the nearly men and women of Number 10. Steve Richards is a must-read writer on politics, with the rare talent of being both fun and informative. Fascinating insights into the hearts and minds of the nearly prime ministers - along with the reasons why none of them seized the crown. Britain's unusually capricious system of selecting its prime ministers means some very gifted leaders have been left on the shelf. There is no one better qualified than Steve Richards to blow away the cobwebs, and to tell us which of them might have made better prime ministers than the rum lot we sometimes got. Erudite and thoroughly enjoyable Insightful and entertaining. Steve Richards remains among the brightest and best of British writers and broadcasters.