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| A View From The Foothills: The Diaries of Chris Mullin |  | Author: Chris Mullin
Publisher: Profile Books
List Price: £9.99
Buy New: £4.99
as of 8/9/2010 23:47 CDT details
You Save: £5.00 (50%)
New (14) Used (7) from £4.62
Rating:  45 reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.6
ISBN: 1846682304
EAN: 9781846682308
Publication Date: January 14, 2010
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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Product Description
The author has been a Labour MP for 20 years, and despite his refusal to toe the party line, he has held several prominent posts. This book offers humorous and incisive takes on various aspects of political life: from the build-up to Iraq, to the scandalous sums of tax-payers' money spent on ministerial cars he didn't want to use.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
 This really is what it is like at the foothills August 26, 2010
Devon Lady (Devon UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As a much more lowly person in the foothills (town councillor) I can say, hand on heart, that Chris Mullin describes the situation for us exactly as it is. Sir Humphrey always thinks he knows best (and usually gets his own way), those at the top of the pecking order take absolutely no notice of those at the bottom and if your face doesn't fit it doesn't matter how good you are, you won't get anywhere.
And as for those people who moan that he likes his weekends free - enjoy them Chris, because nothing useful gets done then or on any other day.
I really enjoyed this book but it depressed me at the same time because it shows how little gets done in government.
Insider August 25, 2010
E. J. Clapton (Devon UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a view of government as it is in real life. Humourous, well written and revealing about the Blair government. I thorougly enjoyed it.
Must try harder August 18, 2010
Ms. K. Hall (London)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'm sure that was written on Chris Mullin's school report at some point. As a lot of the other reviews mention, it is very frustrating that he hasn't tried harder as an MP. Or developed some sort of a spine. There were numerous times during my reading of this book that I screamed out 'Oh for God's sake, stop being such a wuss'. I tend to lose patience with people who think it's a virtue to eschew modern technology (and apparently irons as he's always in a crumpled suit) - Mullin refused a mobile phone and pager, even when he was in government. That bit him on the ass when he missed a phone call that could have moved him up in government.
He really did seem to have mixed emotions about being in government and he was honest about it - he wanted to be, then when he realised that he wasn't going to be given a juicy gig right off the bat, he realised that he had more power as a back bencher. That's fine, I respected him when he said he wanted out because he felt he could do more outside government, but then he started to make sounds and drop hints to everyone and their brother that he wanted back in 'if it were more substantial'. And he said himself that if he hadn't told so many people that he was going to vote against the Iraq war, he would have voted for it at the end of the day. There was a big section of him ringing round loads of people taking the temperature as to whether he could worm out of his decision without losing too much face - so him being seen as a hero for his principles doesn't ring quite true, he'd backed himself into a corner. But the book did hold my attention through the whole thing. It also made me realise more than ever that the government really doesn't know what it's doing most of the time.
 Mr Integrity reluctantly climbs on the greasy pole August 10, 2010
One view (UK)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
One other reviewer unfairly titled his review diary of a nobody. Perhaps future records on British History will be kinder to Mr Mullin. Before being apointed minster he had played a vital role in over turning the wrongful conviction of the Birmingham Six through his relentless probing and work as a newspaper Journalist which helped to keep the men's case in the media spotlight in the eighties.
However history is likely to place greater significance on Mullin's deeds outside of the Political System then in it as these riveting Diaries atest once Mullin entered the world of Whitehall whitewash he was barly a marmur in a party which had deserted its original principles of fairness and equality in favour of business and Colonization.
VFTF it is clear that Mullin has improved greatly as a writer since a very British Coup. He writes in a more snappy style no days and the wit and world weary humour within these pages make it a engoyable read. You don't have to be a Politics Fan to get into it it written in a general and straight forward way.
Although when this former Blarite refers with bemusement to homeless Sikhs and a man of South European appearance(who might be as British as his own Daughter) with a cokney accent looking shifty ,you have to wounder whether this Benite really is of a superior moral judgment then those on the right he attacks for intolerance.
Those on the Left might find this a bitter sweet read the overiding message within these pages appears to be a good Man in Politics is so often an ignored Man that after years he becomes a silent Man when asked to speak his mind.
Supringly Mr Mullin manages to keep his Political inegrity in the crucial Iraq vote unlike other so called left wingers who sold out lock stock barly hours after that sunny day in 1997. It is this fact which give these Direes a personal integrity almost thankfully free of the glib smugness that made up Alister Cambells nice little earner.
An intresting insight into British Politics and how those who have achieved outside of politics end up doing(on unable through the reigns of the whip) nothing of radical significane for the people they claim to represent once they are in.
A good book but had its flaws August 6, 2010
Emanon (London, England)
This was a good book but it had its flaws. It was too long, and should really have been split into two volumes. It also went on at times, and could have done with being more succinct. On the plus side, it was humorous and candid. Worth reading.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
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