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Commons Knowledge
Most MPs do not achieve the great offices of State; some do not aspire to them. As backbenchers they have an influential role in the making of legislation, the conduct of government and the welfare of their political party.
Commons Knowledge makes the case for the active, rigorous backbench MP. From taking the oath to resigning, it offers advice for new and veteran backbenchers alike. The informative narrative is a valuable guide to what can be achieved by backbenchers - valuable to both would-be MPs and constituents who want to know what their MP ought to be doing.
Commons Knowledge makes the case for the active, rigorous backbench MP. From taking the oath to resigning, it offers advice for new and veteran backbenchers alike. The informative narrative is a valuable guide to what can be achieved by backbenchers - valuable to both would-be MPs and constituents who want to know what their MP ought to be doing.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
166 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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December 23, 2020With less than a tenth of people thinking MPs put the interest of their constituencies first the life of David Taylor is a reminder that there are always exceptions. Dedicated to North West Leicestershire, Taylor was a backbench Labour MP for the constituency for over a decade, spending as much time holding Blair and Brown to account as he did attacking the Conservative opposition.
Taylor was one of the hardest working MPs, researching topics in real detail, gaining a reputation for asking pointed questions and being awarded the backbencher of the year award in 2005. He died of a heart attack just before the 2009 General Election, with some colleagues feeling it was caused by the stress of being publicly and unfairly named in connection with the MP expenses scandal.
Unfortunately, biographies of genuinely hard-working, decent politicians tend to lack the salacious intrigue that spices up those of many counterparts. His predecessor as constituency MP lost a libel case after his marriage collapsed following a gay sex scandal, later being accused of trying to stab his wife to death. In comparison, Taylor was partial as a youngster to stamp collecting, didn’t like flying, overused alliteration and wasn’t a great driver. Good guys don’t necessarily make for good stories.
While Flynn’s biography paints a sympathetic picture of a down-to-earth, engaging politician, the writing is pedestrian. The short volume is padded out by including the entire transcript of a speech against the Private Finance Initiative and a section of recollections by parliamentary colleagues. Robert Caro is unlikely to be worried about the competition, but it is to Flynn’s credit that he spent time on a memorial to a deserving friend.
It may not make for the most gripping narrative, but it is important that politicians like Taylor have their story told. While it is unlikely to change anyone’s mind about our system, reading Flynn’s biography will at least temporarily remove any cynicism the reader may have about some of our political class.
Taylor was one of the hardest working MPs, researching topics in real detail, gaining a reputation for asking pointed questions and being awarded the backbencher of the year award in 2005. He died of a heart attack just before the 2009 General Election, with some colleagues feeling it was caused by the stress of being publicly and unfairly named in connection with the MP expenses scandal.
Unfortunately, biographies of genuinely hard-working, decent politicians tend to lack the salacious intrigue that spices up those of many counterparts. His predecessor as constituency MP lost a libel case after his marriage collapsed following a gay sex scandal, later being accused of trying to stab his wife to death. In comparison, Taylor was partial as a youngster to stamp collecting, didn’t like flying, overused alliteration and wasn’t a great driver. Good guys don’t necessarily make for good stories.
While Flynn’s biography paints a sympathetic picture of a down-to-earth, engaging politician, the writing is pedestrian. The short volume is padded out by including the entire transcript of a speech against the Private Finance Initiative and a section of recollections by parliamentary colleagues. Robert Caro is unlikely to be worried about the competition, but it is to Flynn’s credit that he spent time on a memorial to a deserving friend.
It may not make for the most gripping narrative, but it is important that politicians like Taylor have their story told. While it is unlikely to change anyone’s mind about our system, reading Flynn’s biography will at least temporarily remove any cynicism the reader may have about some of our political class.
January 22, 2018
An interesting book that both guides MPs and take a very satirical viewpoint on the poor MPs. Funny to see how MPs think and live.
March 26, 2018
It was a read. I'm not British, but there would be some similarities with our Australian Parliament. No House of Lords though, as here one must be elected.
March 23, 2020
Chronicled Taylor’s life nicely whiles at the same time explaining what an ideal MP does.
Excellent read
Excellent read
April 26, 2023
Indispensable and comprehensive. Due an update by a young MP (Paul died in 2019) to make sense of the last decade of nonsense.
December 18, 2024
Authoritative and specific
March 20, 2017
A simply marvellous account of MP Flynn's observations and anecdotes from 25 years in public life. As with other selections in this series from Biteback Publishing, the author includes a healthy dose of humour and tongue-in-cheek commentary. Overall though, the reader comes away with a vastly improved understanding and awareness of the ins-and-outs of being an effective and thoughtful backbench MP. As an added bonus, Flynn at aged 81 recently became the oldest front-bencher in over a century, following his appointment as Opposition House Leader in the wake of the Corbyn mass-defections!
November 28, 2018
a bit of a disappointment: funny and informative at times, especially in the opening pages, with the best bit being about how to get things done, but, compared to Brian Sedgemore's The Insider's Guide to Parliament it leaves rather a lot to be desired. Maybe because Flynn seems to be holding back most of the time
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews