Shortlisted for the Galaxy Biography of the Year 2010.
The sequel to Chris Mullin’s highly acclaimed first volume of diaries, A View From the Foothills, widely regarded as the best insider account of the Blair government. On the back benches but still in the thick of it, Decline & Fall runs from Chris Mullin’s sacking as a minister by Tony (‘The Man’) Blair in 2005 to the fall of New Labour in May 2010. Here is politics as it really is: entertaining encounters with constituents and conspirators, tantalising glimpses behind the scenes at the courts of Blair and Brown, all set against the background of the global financial crisis and the Great Expenses Meltdown. Every bit as funny and insightful as A View From the Foothills, the Mullin diaries provide a refreshingly irreverent and humane snapshot of life in the Westminster village. In May 2010 Chris stepped down after 23 years as an MP: ‘ I have heard it said that most MPs stay one parliament too long,’ he says. ‘I thought it better to go one too early, while people are still asking, “Why?” rather than, “When?” ’
Britains best-loved MP and bestselling diarist returns with his hilarious account of a New Labour backbencher. On the backbenches but still in the thick of it, Decline and Fall runs from Chris Mullin's sacking as a minister by Tony ('The Man') Blair in 2005 to the fall of New Labour in May 2010. Here is politics as it really is: entertaining encounters with constituents and conspirators, tantalising glimpses behind the scenes at the courts of Blair and Brown, all set against the background of the global financial crisis and the great expenses meltdown. Every bit as funny and insightful as his first volume A View From The Foothills , these new diaries provide a snapshot of life in the Westminster village. Preparing to step down after twenty-three years as an MP, Mullin wryly observes 'they say failed politicians make the best diarists, in which case I am in with a chance'.
'Every once in a while, political diaries emerge that are so irreverent and insightful that they are destined to be handed out as leaving presents in offices across Whitehall for years to come. A View from the Foothills is one such book' (David Cameron)
'At a time when we are awash with memoirs of political grandees, the worms-eye view is even more valuable' (New Statesman)
Author
About Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin, author, journalist and former MP, a minister in three departments and chairman of the Home Affairs select committee. His books include a highly acclaimed volume of diaries, “A View from the Foothills” and the novel “A Very British Coup” which was made into an award-winning television series. He is an accomplished public speaker.
