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The Prime Ministers We Never Had

Success and Failure from Butler to Corbyn

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The Prime Ministers We Never Had

By: Steve Richards
Narrated by: Steve Richards
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About this listen

Was Harold Wilson a bigger figure than Denis Healey? Was John Major more ‘prime ministerial’ than Michael Heseltine? Would David Miliband have become prime minister if it were not for his brother, Ed? Would Ed have become prime minister if it were not for David? How close did Jeremy Corbyn come to being prime minister?

In this piercing and original study, journalist and commentator Steve Richards looks at 11 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 very top. Combining astute insights into the demands of leadership with compelling historical analysis, this fascinating exploration of failure and success sheds new light on some of the most compelling characters in British public life.

©2021 Steve Richards (P)2021 W F Howes Elections & Political Process Europe Great Britain Political Science Politics & Government

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Critic reviews

“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.” (Sir Anthony Seldon, author of The Impossible Office)

All stars
Most relevant
First class audiobook, full of insight, well narrated by author who engages your interest in the subject

Excellent

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Loved listening to this. Steve is a master at dissecting the British political landscape. Brilliant!

Brilliant analysis

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Fascinating take on politicians of my generation. Unusually in this genre a detailed but sympathetic approach. 10/10.

Brilliant Read

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Steve Richards is a very knowledgeable and articulate writer who knew these politicians personally. I had highly enjoyed his previous book on the Prime Ministers, now he deals with all the hopefuls from Heseltine to Benn and why they failed to climb to the top of the greasy pole. He gives great insights throughout the book, mixes in a bit of gossip and reminds you of the key moments such as leaving the ERM or Labour's perceived anti-Semitism. He details 10 "wannabes from Rab Butler to Jeremy Corbyn and forensically examines why they didn't get to fulfil their ambition to govern the country. There is no political bias here. He examines their chances, what went wrong, what they lacked and considers how some of them might have steered Britain in better directions than those who got to fill the top job, managed. My favourite line in the whole book is when Ed Miliband looking back says he was amazed by how devastated his brother David was by his treachery in standing against him and winning.
Any lover of Politics should read Steve Richards. Highly recommended.

An excellent review of the losing candidates

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This was a superb book: well-written, and well-read. I really enjoyed it. About a year ago, I listened to Steve Richards’ other work on those who actually made it to No.10. And, I’m tempted to say that this one was even better.

The content is a masterful dissection of eleven of the nearly-but-not-quite aspirants. Wanting the top job isn’t enough to get inclusion into the book. Richards applies tight criteria concerning the actual prospects (such as being Leader of the Opposition) rather than those whom the media may have dubbed plausible pretenders, which would have made the list too numerous. Those who made the cut make for a rather diverse cast of high-fliers: from Butler to Healey, Kinnock to Clarke, Heseltine to the Milliband brothers,.. Beyond Richards’ insightful potted bios and insider vignettes of each political heavyweight, what you get as a by-product is a remarkable account of late 20th century history through the prism of high-politics.

His comparisons between the politicians of different stripes and the synoptic reflections in the Introduction and Conclusion of the book are illuminating and carefully drawn. He speculates, for example, on the determinants of success and failure, the importance of ambition and skill, and the difficulty of timing and uncontrollable outside events, The book is as much an account about character and political leadership as individuated portraits of those who tried and failed (or those who didn’t try hard enough as is sometimes the inference). The prescience with which Richards makes his observations on the sometime hopefuls could only come from such a seasoned and close observer of British politics as he. And though I certainly didn’t agree with all of his analysis concerning the people themselves, I found his general thoughts on the elusive nature of political ascendency and the qualities needed to succeed were spot-on.

Some books are read awkwardly even by the author because the work isn’t well-edited. Talented broadcaster that Steve Richards is (to my mind one of the best presenters of BBC Radio 4’s “Week in Westminster”) he reads his own words like a polished script. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he read each chapter out loud when editing the final manuscript of the printed book with half an eye on a subsequent audiobook.

Overall, it was a great listen with so many gems in it that I shall probably listen to it all over again fairly soon!

Analysis of character and the world of politics

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Very thoughtful and insightful, giving a worthwhile glimpse into British politics.It does perhaps also leave questions about why people enter the fray in the first place.

Superb

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Excellent and very well balanced particularly in the context of the times and prevailing conditions.

Intelligent and Interesting

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This is a simply one of the best political audiobooks I have had the pleasure to listen too. The phrase which motivates the work is often used when a major political figure who did not serve in Downing Street either passes away or retires from active politcal life.

Mr Richards,whose narration is wonderful and maintains the quality that makes him a good presenter on the TV, has chosen ten of these figures to write about. They are all assessed using the same criteria and the author does a excellent job of making the case as to why they became such impressive figures in many cases and more importantly why they did not make it all the way to 10 downing street.

You may agree or disagree with some of the choices or if they conclusions reached are what you see as the reason as to why they did not become prime minister but I think you will learn and be given plenty of enjoyment and food for though by listening to this audiobook

Brilliant from start to finish

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I have read reviews of this criticising the central premise linking the choice of characters. I disagree with this. I found the logic compelling and the stories well argued. The chapters on Kinnock, Rab Butler and Denis Healey were excellent but I was disappointed by the chapter on Corbyn especially comments about the antisemitism. No reference to the EHRC report and a little too generous to him and others around him, especially on Brexit and Salisbury but I guess that's the perspective on a chapter written which is more current affairs than history! The audiobook narration is clear and engaging.

Engaging

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Avoids being too speculative or partisan as to what might have been, but gives informative barkground and context to explain these key figures' political journeys to be considered possible PMs. A useful inight into UK politics.

Informative and inightful

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