Chance Witness: An Outsider's Life in Politics

Description

Hugely entertaining, self-deprecating insider's account of life in British politics over last 20 years In this surprising and eccentric autobiography from a former Conservative MP, Matthew Parris writes of his personal and political life with equal candour. With a First from Cambridge and the possibility of working for the Foreign Office, he decided instead to apply to be an apprentice diesel-fitter with London Transport. He was rejected and so turned to a life in politics. He has worked with Margaret Thatcher, Chris Patten, Tony Blair and Michael Portillo, and his observations of political lifeand those who move within it are truly fascinating. This colourful memoir is an account of a young life already well lived.

Matthew Parris was born in Johannesburg in 1949. For seven years a Conservative MP, he quit to present LWT's Weekend World, after which he became a regular parliamentary sketchwriter for The Times. His books include READ MY LIPS, SCORN WITH ADDED VITRIOL, and INCA-KOLA, about his travels in Peru. He has also made a number of television documentaries, including most recently an account of his sojourn on a remote sub-Antarctic island.

Shockingly Candid * Observer * Of interest to students and lovers of politics alike, and indeed to anyone who is interested in the history of the last quarter of a century. Parris is a skilful entertainer, who informs as well as amuses -- Peter Bottomley * Literary Review * Whimsy, polemic, irony, humour . . . a scintillating read -- Boris Johnson * Sunday Telegraph * The perfect autobiographer * Spectator * Brilliant, deliciously entertaining. I laughed a lot * Observer *