Haven't You Heard? Gossip, Power and How Politics Really Works

In Haven't You Heard...?, Marie Le Conte looks at the role gossip plays in all areas of politics - for the people in positions of power, the press who have most of the control, and how the internet has changed everything. From policy rows which aren't about policy at all and boozy nights with dramatic consequences, to people spinning their way to the top and media quid pro quos veering into blackmail, she will set out in great and entertaining detail how politics really works. Through interviews with over 80 MPs, peers, former ministers, senior civil servants, newspaper editors, lobby correspondents, No. 10 political advisers, lobbyists, academics, and everyone in between, Haven't You Heard...? explores why Westminster can seem so dysfunctional, why it often is, and why it shouldn't be any other way. If you've ever wondered why 'rising star' MPs seemingly rise out of nowhere, how journalists decide who to tip for parties' leadership, why the indiscretions of some politicians make the front pages while others' don't, whether the civil service is as dull as it seems, and how the whips get to know everything, your questions will be answered in this brilliant book...