Premiership

The office of Prime Minister stands at the apex of the British political system. An understanding of this post is essential to all who are - or aspire to be - within government, or who observe it from outside.

This book combines the methods of history and political science to produce theories of the development, nature and power of the premiership, and to explain the implications for present politicians and analysts. It is essential reading for academics, students, journalists and all who are working in or interested in politics.

Blick and Jones have found out things we did not know and created patterns we had not seen in their pursuit of that most elusive phenomenon, the British premiership. This is a book whose trail should wind from the Leader of the Opposition's office, to the Prime Minister's study in No. 10, from the Sixth Form to the University seminar room. Peter Hennessy, Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History, Queen Mary, University of London

Premiership is going to be a key and important book that all concerned with prime ministers and the British political system are going to have to read, know and inwardly digest. We need to see the application of Blick and Jones's methods to other institutions and parts of the system of government, including Whitehall and the civil service, Parliament, and local government. The argument, analysis and evidence are put together with impressive skill and authority. Kevin Theakston, Professor of British Government, University of Leeds

Splendidly wide-ranging and always interesting, an excellent book which provides ample material for thought. The scholarship covers the entire period of the prime ministers since Walpole. No-one else has done so much to trace the diversity of three centuries. The readiness of Blick and Jones to cross numerous frontiers is excellent.