Ungovernable!

Simon Hart’s book, ‘Ungovernable’ got better as the story careered haphazardly towards its inevitable conclusion. His years in cabinet and close involvement with post-Brexit conservative Governments provide occasional glimpses of fascinating detail. But it’s as Chief Whip for Rishi Sunak that he was able to observe the decline and fall of a once-great party at close quarters. One is unsure whether to laugh or cry at the persistence of Tory MPs fighting for knighthoods and peerages to soften the blow of their widely-expected defeat, but Hart finds a way to treat it all with benign benevolence. On this account, Sunak comes across as a solid, well-intentioned PM. with little chance of closing the stable door when the horse had long ago, bolted. It’s a sympathetic portrayal, but this book does little to explain how the gifted technocrat made so many political misjudgements. These diaries are good at narrative but very limited on analysis.

Despite this it’s an enjoyable read; one for the beach, perhaps?