William Waldegrave in his autobiography noted that he decided to dispense with his ambitions for the "highest office" having seen the incumbent (Margaret Thatcher) in action at close hand, and concluding he "didn't have it in him". I can understand why, given the impact that the job has had on the health, marriages, reputations and sanity of all of the holders of the role of Britain's "first among equals" most senior politician. Iain Dale's book summarising the career and impact of the fifty five people to have held the office of Prime Minister from Sir Robert Walpole in 1721 to Boris Johnson is fascinating. The book concludes before Johnson's ignominious eviction from office, but his calamitous impact on both our nation's history and the future of the Conservative Party is otherwise well described and foretold. Each PM gets a chapter, written by a different author - academics, politicians, journalists, and in latter cases former colleagues. In most I learnt something, and whilst the way in which the evaluation of the impact of each subject varies, you get a very good appreciation of each. I found the chapters on 18th and 19th century PMs harder going, as the historical background was less familiar, but very much enjoyed the later sections. Rachel Reeve's summary of Harold Wilson's career was especially good, and Sky journalist Adam Boulton's forensic destruction of the legacy of David Cameron was both fair and rather tragic. Very much glad to have read this.

First published November 2020. Read on Kindle.