Children of the Master

ONE DOOMED PRIME MINISTER.TWO WOULD-BE SUCCESSORS.BUT WHO'S PULLING THE STRINGS? The second novel from Britain's foremost political commentator is a thrillingly intimate look at the inner workings of Whitehall, and who really controls party politics. The Labour Party has unexpectedly won a narrow majority in the 2018 general election. But the new government is weak and divided, its unpopular leader embattled in the House of Commons. A group of eminent figures from the party's past see an opportunity to re-establish their grip over its future by replacing the prime minister with a figurehead they can manipulate to their own ends. But who will they choose? Two possible candidates emerge from the recent intake of MPs: David Petrie, a self-made Scot with a working-class background and a troubled personal history; and Caroline Phillips, a high-flying Londoner whose complicated private life could be either her greatest handicap, or her greatest asset. Against a backdrop of intrigue and...