{"title":"Steve Richards","description":"\u003cp\u003eSteve Richards offers incisive explorations into political leadership and history, blending sharp analysis with engaging storytelling. His works delve into the careers and decisions of prominent figures, revealing the complexities behind public power and influence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect thought-provoking narratives that illuminate the turning points and personalities shaping contemporary politics. Richards' writing is as compelling as it is insightful, making political biography accessible and engaging.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-prime-ministers-we-never-had-by-steve-richards-9781838952426","title":"The Prime Ministers We Never Had","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Prime Ministers We Never Had\u003c\/em\u003e by Steve Richards was named Book of the Year by \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eProspect\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWas 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this piercing and original study, journalist and commentator Steve Richards examines eleven prime ministers we never had. He explores what made each of these illustrious figures unique and why they failed to make the final leap to the very top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCombining 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46555694629100,"sku":"9781838952426","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20509083482842.jpg?v=1750111265"},{"product_id":"tony-blair-by-steve-richards-9781800754409","title":"Tony Blair","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'One of the shrewdest political commentators we have'\u003c\/em\u003e Andrew Marr\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWas Tony Blair a visionary, impatiently looking ahead, or a leader trapped by his past—Labour's vote-losing 1980s and the dominance of Margaret Thatcher? Was the party's move to the right under Blair necessary in order for them to win, or could they, after 18 years of Tory rule, have afforded to be more daring and more left wing than their leader wished to recognise?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn Steve Richards's short, provocative and highly engaging new biography, \u003cem\u003eTony Blair\u003c\/em\u003e, he argues that Blair was often the opposite of what we remember him being: perceived as a 'moderniser', he sought to strengthen the traditional institutions that partly define the UK, from the monarchy to the military; while to Margaret Thatcher's public appreciation he cemented her economic legacy rather than moved on from it. And, while he was viewed as messianic over Iraq, he was, in fact, being characteristically expedient, clinging to the orthodoxy in which the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with the US in war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut the UK in 2007 was undoubtedly a different country to the one it had been in 1997: from devolution, which played its part in establishing peace in Northern Ireland, to civil partnerships and a revived NHS, Blair left Britain in a much better place. While his legacy has been overshadowed by the Iraq war, \u003cem\u003eTony Blair\u003c\/em\u003e re-establishes a more rounded view of his time in office, and shows that the challenges facing Blair were the ones that still face Labour today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47341600506092,"sku":"9781800754409","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3644183482829.jpg?v=1772193020"},{"product_id":"turning-points-by-steve-richards-9781035015368","title":"Turning Points","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e Best Politics and Current Affairs Books of the Year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAn entertaining and revealing history of modern British politics - and the pivotal moments that got us where we are now. From Steve Richards, broadcaster, journalist, and author of \u003cem\u003eThe Prime Ministers We Never Had\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Through wonderful vignettes, Richards offers a masterful, clear-eyed and, above all, entertaining history of British politics' - Will Hutton\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery few weeks in British politics, a columnist will reach for the word 'unprecedented' as a cabinet minister resigns or yet another inquiry is called. We have become so accustomed to turmoil that it is impossible to take a breath and see where we are headed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this magisterial history, respected broadcaster and journalist Steve Richards blends anecdote and analysis to put the recent chaos into context and takes a step back to explore ten critical moments that have shaped modern Britain - from the Suez Crisis of 1956 to the Covid-19 pandemic, from 1945 to Thatcher.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRichards argues that it is only with distance that we can perceive the tectonic plates shifting - and events that may seem earth-shattering in the moment might be a passing tremor with the perspective of history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA must-read for anyone seeking to understand our nation, this landmark work is enlightening and entertaining in equal measure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Steve Richards is one of the shrewdest political commentators we have' - Andrew Marr, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Making of Modern Britain\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48244796621036,"sku":"9781035015368","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781035015368-turning-points-1.jpg?v=1788015051"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/steve-richards.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}