Victoria Tower Treasures
by Keith Simpson MP / 24 Feb 2011
A new book that catalogues the treasures that lie in the Parliamentary Archives
Hung Together: The 2010 Election and the Coalition Government
by Keith Simpson MP / 03 Jan 2011
A book that focuses on a pivotal period in recent British politics
Book Review: Getting under covers
by Keith Simpson MP / 29 Oct 2010
Keith Simpson MP looks at the recent releases that chronicle the previously hidden world of our spies - and their relationship with politics MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949Keith JefferyBloomsbury, £30Six: A History of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service Part I: Murder and Mayhem 1909-1939Michael SmithBiteback, £19.
Book Review: Lloyd George coalesced with my father
by Keith Simpson MP / 18 Jun 2010
Keith Simpson offers a reading guide to coalition governmentPopular myth has Benjamin Disraeli articulate his opposition to coalitions.
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Book Reviews: Rebalancing Labour's Past
by Keith Simpson MP / 16 Apr 2010
Total Politics books editor Keith Simpson MP looks at a timely history of the Labour Party and the influence of war reportingSpeak for Britain: A New History of the Labour PartyMartin PughBodley Head, £20.
The draw of sketchwriting
by Keith Simpson MP / 18 Dec 2009
Keith Simpson explores how parliamentary sketchwriting has developed throughout history Frank Johnson coined the term "chattering classes", referred to Norman Tebbit as "The Chingford Strangler" and Dennis Skinner as "The Beast of Bolsover".
Clark of Toad Hall
by Keith Simpson MP / 18 Sep 2009
Keith Simpson talks to Ion Trewin about his biography of the man who was conformist and rebel, aristo and arriviste, family man and philanderer, and author of the famous diariesIon Trewin has effectively lived with Alan Clark for nearly a decade.
Book Review: The key to Macmillan
by Keith Simpson MP / 17 Jul 2009
Harold MacmillanCharles WilliamsWeidenfeld & Nicolson, £25There have been something like a dozen biographies and studies of Harold Macmillan and this autumn the second edited volume of his postwar diaries will be published.
The War that Still Haunts Us
by Keith Simpson MP / 12 Nov 2008
The 90th Anniversary of the Armistice has seen an interesting crop of books on the First World War including new collections of edited letters by participants.
Ages of Reform
by Keith Simpson MP / 24 Feb 2011
Kenneth Morgan's new book on the British left throws up some interesting questions about liberalism, Lloyd George and the left
Book review: Christmas reads
by Keith Simpson MP / 22 Nov 2010
Keith Simpson provides his list of the political books that you should be putting in stockings this year
Autumn reading guide
by Keith Simpson MP / 20 Aug 2010
Keith Simpson MP suggests a variety of novels, diaries and biographies to keep politicos fully informedWith bucket and spade put back in the shed and speedos consigned to the dry cleaners, autumn is the time of a heavy parliamentary session and party conferences.
General election book guide
by Keith Simpson MP / 16 Apr 2010
Keith Simpson rounds up the titles that will inform, entertain or amuse in the build-up to polling day In theory and in practice parliamentary candidates and their helpers will have no time to read guides, polemics, biographies or memoirs before and during the general election, although a few may turn to them in desperation.
Book Review: The age of reform
by Keith Simpson MP / 22 Jan 2010
Keith Simpson on the latest in a magnificent set of volumes that covers one of the most crucial periods in British politicsThe History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1820-1832Edited by DR FisherCambridge University Press, £425As the current House of Commons struggles through its final months, taunted by accusations of corruption and electoral malpractice and with great political issues causing dissent and division, it is perhaps apposite that the latest section of The History of Parliament covers the period between 1820 and 1832, from the unreformed to the reformed House of Commons.
Christmas page-turners
by Keith Simpson MP / 20 Nov 2009
Keith Simpson looks at the must-have political books for the Christmas breakOver the past few months there has been a rich selection of books published on political issues.
Book Reviews: Game for a laugh
by Keith Simpson MP / 18 Sep 2009
Keith Simpson on a cook book in which Norman Tebbit manages to combine his love of wild game and his sense of humour, and a chillingly plausible political thriller from Henry Porter The Game Book: Recipes inspired by a conversation in my butcher's shopNorman TebbitJR Books, £14.
Combining Business with Pleasure
by Keith Simpson MP / 17 Nov 2008
I never knowingly pass by a secondhand bookshop, charity bookshop or just a table with books at a bring and buy sale.
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What you call austerity is what I might call efficiency.
