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Politics On the Edge: A Memoir from Within - Hardcover - AbeBooks Politics On the Edge: A Memoir from Within - Hardcover - AbeBooks
In his time as an MP and Minister, Stewart travels across the world serving the UK government. His interactions shine light upon the lies, incompetence and inefficiencies within politics. Somehow, he doesn't lose hope and continues to deliver pragmatic solutions on international aid, prisons and Brexit. Taskmaster Champions: Here are all 14 previous season winners of the Alex Horne and Greg Davies game show - from Josh Widdicombe to Dara Ó BriainA searing insider's account of ten extraordinary years in Parliament from Rory Stewart, former Cabinet minister and co-presenter of breakout hit podcast The Rest Is Politics I’m not usually one who enjoys spending their time reading political memoirs (for the same reasons that I’m not usually one who enjoys spending their time in the company of wankers). However, I’ve made an exception — just this once — for my ramble-loving boi Rory: The oddball messiah of the centrist tribe (as he was supremely described by The Times in its review of this book). Rory Stewart's book is a sobering insight into British politics from the perspective of a fascinating man. Each section of the book paints a picture of incompetence, pettiness and childish power-struggles that are quite at odds with the pomp and grandeur of how Parliament portrays itself, but quite believable given the last years of Conservative government. These days Stewart leads a non-profit organisation that gives cash handouts to the poor of East Africa, and, with Alastair Campbell, co-hosts every centrist dad’s favourite podcast, The Rest is Politics. He has also, however, found time to write this memoir, Politics on the Edge: the story of his 10 years as a Tory MP. It’s very good. Even so, I’m not sure I should recommend it. This is because it casts such a depressing light on Westminster that it may put the reader off voting ever again. Consequently, Stewart’s new book, Politics On the Edge, is anything but just another House of Commons memoir. It’s genuinely eye-opening stuff, always riveting, often horrifying, his colleagues depicted as either preening and arrogant or shady and duplicitous, frequently both. It benefits from two crucial factors: firstly, it’s very well written; and secondly, its author adheres to the rule that the best autobiographical writing tells it like it is, and doesn’t pull punches. His erstwhile Tory colleagues will not thank him for this.
Politics On the Edge: A Memoir from Within by Rory Stewart Politics On the Edge: A Memoir from Within by Rory Stewart
Stewart, it seems, was confused that this roster of “the uncurious, uncritical, inept” were selected to build the modern Conservative Party instead of, erm, him. It is hard not to read into the thinly veiled subtext that the worst thing about Cameron is not his politics or his management style, nor his elevation of Liz Truss, but that he held little affection for Rory. But you are changing far more lives now – one stroke of a pen on plastic bags has changed the behaviour of millions.’ But that was tiny, Rory. You were only working with a few hundred people. Now you can change the lives of millions.’ I don’t know,’ I said. ‘It doesn’t feel like what I mean by power. I felt far more powerful running a small NGO in Kabul.’Overall, this is worth reading given how different it is to most memoirs, but it is unfortunately, and understandably, less interesting than those whose political careers went a bit further. Loved the parts when Rory realises the reality of power in modern state and politics and an absolute highlight is this part when he is the most junior minister at the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) :
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