Prime Ministers Time in Office: in Their Own Words

Oct 3, 2024

2 min read

Over 50% of tickets for Boris Johnson’s Literature Festival talk on his memoir Unleashed, haven’t sold.

A pie chart showing how many tickets have sold for Boris Johnson's Literature festival. The pie chart has two sections, the smaller section which is blue, shows that 1009 tickets have sold, and the larger section, which is purple, shows that 1144 tickets have not sold.

Boris Johnson was one of five Conservative Prime Ministers in the last 14 years. During his time in office, scandal after scandal surfaced from the prorogation of Parliament to Partygate, making him possibly one of the most controversial Prime Minister's of recent times. His book covers the highs and lows of his political career from Brexit to COVID and concludes that Britain is an exceptional country that has an exceptional future.

The image is a black and white photograph of Boris Johnson. He is wearing a light-colored shirt and looking ddirectly at the camera with a slight smile. His hair is characteristically tousled. Above his head, the text reads "BORIS JOHNSON" and below his image, it says "UNLEASHED".

But what other books are out there from former Prime Ministers?

'A Journey' by Tony Blair

After a landslide victory in 1997, Blair spent ten years in power before handing over the reins to chancellor Gordon Brown. His memoir allows readers to get to know the man,

the politician, and the statesperson, going behind the scenes to look at the controversies, success, and disappointments.

The image is the cover of a book titled "Tony Blair: A Journey." It features a photograph of Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He is wearing a dark suit jacket, a white shirt, and a light blue tie. The background is a gradient of light blue. The text on the cover includes "THE NO. 1 BESTSELLER With a new introduction" in smaller print to the right of his head. The title "TONY BLAIR A JOURNEY" is in bold white and red letters at the bottom of the cover.

'My life Our Times' by Gordon Brown

Britain’s longest serving chancellor and former Prime Minister shares his life growing up in Scotland, and how his life experiences led to the formation of his principles. Reflections on the tensions within the Labour party to the financial crisis, and a behind the scenes look at how he managed the financial crisis against the tide of neoliberalism.

The image is the cover of a book titled "Gordon Brown: My Life, Our Times." It features a black and white photograph of Gordon Brown, who is a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He is wearing a suit and tie, and the background is a plain grey. The text on the cover is in white, with "Gordon Brown" in large letters and "My Life, Our Times" in smaller letters below it.

For the Record by David Cameron

This memoir covers the rise from the ashes of the conservative party, the formation of a coalition government and the decision to call a referendum on Britain’s membership in the EU. Giving insight into the decision making of the one man who was in charge of it all. As an additional bonus, the book also gives one of the most frank analysis’ of the four years following the 2015 referendum vote.

The Abuse of Power by Theresa May

Scandals and corruption often go hand in hand with British politics, however, in her newest book the former Prime Minister argues for a fairer and more altruistic process from parliament. This account draws on both domestic and international affairs that she was personally involved in.

The image is the cover of a book titled "The Abuse of Power: Confronting Injustice in Public Life" by Theresa May. The cover features a portrait of Theresa May, who is a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She is looking slightly to the side with a serious expression. She is wearing a dark blazer and a chunky blue necklace. The background is a dark, solid color.

Ten Years to Save the West by Liz Truss

Britain’s shortest serving Prime Minister sends out an urgent call to Conservatives about the radical changes that need to be made to save the west. An autobiography of her time in office and her views on limited government, individual freedom, and a return to the alliance of leaders such as Thatcher and Reagan. Throughout there are anecdotes of Truss’ political life from her last meeting with Queen Elizabeth II to her encounter with the Trump administration as Trade Secretary.

The image is a book cover featuring a photograph of Liz Truss, a British politician. She is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The background is blurred, but it appears to be an indoor setting with a hint of a flag, possibly the Union Jack, in the background. The text on the cover reads: "LIZ TRUSS TEN YEARS TO SAVE THE WEST "

The event takes place next Wednesday at the Cheltenham Racecourse and with ticket prices for the event at £50, is it really a surprise that the event hasn’t picked up as much momentum as it could have.

You can read more about authors at the literature festival at Chelt Lit Fest 2024: Including Sold Out Tickets and Most Anticipated Authors.