Inside Story: Politics, Intrigue and Treachery from Thatcher to Brexit

by Philip Webster

From one of the greatest political journalists of recent times, an insider’s account of four decades of covering the British political scene, packed with tales of the biggest political happenings of the last half century.

Philip Webster covered politics for The Times newspaper for 43 years, including 18 years as its political editor. He has been at the centre of all the big stories of the past four decades – the fall of Labour in 1979, the rise and fall of Margaret Thatcher, the emergence and fall of John Major, the rise and fall of Tony Blair and his wars with Gordon Brown, the aftermath of 9/11, the war in Iraq, the fall of Brown, the rise and rise of David Cameron, and the shock election of Jeremy Corbyn.

Beautifully illustrated with Peter Brookes’ cartoons, Webster offers fresh insight into the great stories of his time. He gives a frank and revelatory insider’s account of great political events since Michael Heseltine brandished the Mace, the night the Callaghan government fell, the day Sir Geoffrey Howe brought down Margaret Thatcher, the day Tony Blair said farewell, the night MPs voted for war in Iraq; and every Budget and autumn statement for 40 years.

With the wit and geniality that has made him so many friends in politics, he reveals how stories came into his hands and how political journalism influences events as they unfolded. He has witnessed what he terms a golden age of political journalism and this book offers an intimate account of his trade. The essential handbook for anyone interested by the craft of journalism, ‘Inside Story’ reviews three decades of lead stories and the many politicians, great and small, that he has encountered.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Ebooks, Journalism

392 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Betawolf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Webster's weird memoir-thing was actually very dull.

Part of this was that the events Webster covers are for the most part very removed from anything I care about. The picture he paints of political journalism is a world wherein reporters focus entirely on a narrative of prominent personalities clashing and spatting and generally being toxic, with at best a backdrop of policy and ideology.

More than that, he demonstrates through reminiscence how blatantly pathetic the reporters are: rushing off from a press-conference to report on a minor variant of a campaign speech; letting themselves be used as pawns in PR campaigns; salivating wildly over inconsequential stories about the private lives of ministers. Political reporters seem to deal almost entirely in statements given to them from politicians or highlighted out of reports, and this lack of original research lends their work a very superficial character.

However, not all of the blame for the book's vapidity can be laid at the feet of its content. Certain episodes that Webster covers could easily have been regarded as interesting, even gripping, if he had bothered to put any amount of effort into the writing.

To be sure, Webster has a command of the journalistic clarity you commonly expect to find in newspapers and long for in technical reports. But either his talent stops precisely there, or he never cared to exercise it more. Each of the stories he delivers is achingly underdeveloped, with a severe lack of context (damaged even more by the spotty chronological order) followed by a long series of 'this happened, then this happened', with no real attempt to explain causes or significance. Whenever he allows himself a comment, aside or piece of flavour, he immediately punishes the reader by underlining it with an exclamation point, or insisting rather defensively that a joke was a joke.

With such a drab style, and stale, superficial content, I found little to salvage from the book. Webster most closely approaches interesting when he talks about the shifting mechanics and practices of Lobby journalism, a topic he would have been in a good position to comment on more thoroughly. Sadly, this thread was only sparsely explored, and rather than capping his history with his report to the Levenson Inquiry, we instead get a bewildering list of name+opinion snippets, highlighting yet again that to him, the story's all about the cast.

Hopefully, this will be the worst book I read all year.

[Kharis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb and balanced political journalist offering some interesting perspective on various leaders as well as insights into some of the big issues over the last four decades. Well written and engaging. Philip Webster clearly knows his subject.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Partially a memoir. Nothing surprising in this book, the most exciting events are long forgotten and turned out to be not very significant. The structure of the book is totally random, maybe it was meant to be serialised as a column?

[Andy Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong tour de force through over four decades of political commentary, focusing largely on the major splashes to hit The Times during Webster's extraordinary career there. My only reservation is the detailed retelling of major political developments already well known in the political sphere.

The book is at its best recounting how the lobby works, setting out how scoops are secretly developed such as the Edwina Currie/ Major revelations and anecdotes/ pen portraits of political leaders, of which the description of Gordon Brown's tirade in the Treasury gym takes some beating.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. The first political book I've read. Easy to read and very informative. A deep dive into Webster's political insight during the ages (albeit from a press perspective).

Does tend to jump back and forth through time a bit. This can cause slight difficulties when trying to comprehend the political implications of certain events especially if you're not completely au fait with the political characters or mood of the times.

Definitely worth a read for those interested in politics and it's relationship with the press.

[Kieran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A meandering, highly personal yomp through British politics and the act of reporting it from the early 1970s until the mid 2010s. The chapter about how Neil Kinnock was accidentally arrested by the Zimbabwean army earned the 4th star by itself.

[Ricky Balas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and well-written account of a truly remarkable span of history. Webster offers great insight into how journalism evolved in the final decades of the 20th century and insight into some of the most colorful characters in British political history.

[Annabel Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read for anyone with an interest in modern political history.

[Nick Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

slightly soul destroying view of the shenanigans of modern politics

[Ailith Twinning · Rating 1 out of 5]

Betawolf has a decent comment on this. I found it dreadfully dull and mildly annoying.

[Venky · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the finest journalists of our time regales us with a power packed, fast paced, flowing narrative chronicling the topical events to have defined the course of English politics over the last half century. Ranging from the hubris of Thatcher to the ungainly occurrences leading to Brexit, Mr.Philip Webster lays bare before us an intriguing political theatre where unpredictable dramas involving Shakespearean protagonists and antagonists are played out defying logic and imagination.

The chapters are controversial, illuminating and revealing. Mixing a wicked sense of humour with passages of grave import, Mr.Webster demonstrates his singularly unique and unparalleled skills which have combined to make him a man to be reckoned with and whose words contain a bearing that is greatly influential. Having access to the inner circles of Prime Ministers, Opposition Leaders and politicians of every ilk has surely helped Mr.Webster in his cause to bring news of gravity to people across the country and the world.

Mr.Webster also provides an enlightening overview of the ethics and propriety that needs to be inculcated by a reporter as he goes about plying his wares. Protecting and preserving the confidentiality of the sources of his information, intimating an affected source about any impending news of negative import that might have an adverse impact on his personal or professional career and ignoring rumour mongering occupy an important place in the book.

"Inside Story" - an exquisitely written memoir

[Max Godin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty disappointed with this I have to say. Philip Webster covers a lot of what is common knowledge already, no the case for his whole book I admit but for a significant portion it is sadly. Really it was just not that interesting and many events here aren't even that relevant or significant, more odd tidbits than big political stories. For example I can't really claim to be wowed or shocked at all in discovering that Margaret Thatcher got the name of one Tory MP wrong once and how that MP served on the Conservative rugby team which meant he must have told his MP teammates and how that led to them not voting for her in the leadership challenge of 1990. I felt like saying, so what?! I suppose it was interesting in the sense of underlining the relationship between press and politicians, how reporters obtain their stories but in terms of political gossip, a big fat two stars out of five.

I say all this as someone who has a genuine interest in politics!!!

[Joy Lakin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable no matter what your political leanings are. A great description of journalism and politics over the last 4 decades which offers greater understanding to how we got to where we are today.

[Umma]

Written in an engaging manner, Webster has the ability to dissect some of the biggest issues faced in political history.

[Pinko Palest · Rating 1 out of 5]

not particularly informative, in that he has nothing very interesting to say that's new. Plus, the author just can't hide how right-wing he is. He doesn't even begin to try and understand not just Corbyn, but even Gordon Brown; anyone to the left of Tony Blair is beyond the pale. Not even very many good jokes, or wortwhile confidences and no self-criticism whatsoever

[John Ashmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and informative overview of the last 40-odd years in British politics from one of the UK's best political hacks.