Didn't want this wonderful read to finish. Fascinating diary of becoming an MP and Whip in John Major's government. On radio Gyles comes across as rather smug, but here reveals himself to be very human. Gyles is ambitious but appreciates the often ridiculous aspects of working in the House of Commons, discovering it to be a cross between public school and a gentleman's club with ludicrous traditions. Gyles is wonderfully indiscreet about his fellow men, and comes across as a likeable man with a compassionate but clear eye, alive to the humour to be found in climbing the greasy pole. ( )

Brandreth's Westminster diaries cover the period 1990-7 - from when he got a yen to become a Tory MP, through getting elected, and then finally losing his seat in the 1997 election.

They contain all the wit you'd expect from the seasoned raconteur, but do also show that he tried terribly hard to be a good MP for the duration of his tenure. However hard the weekend constituency grind was, this was leavened by the excitement of being a member of one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, and his amazement at the workings and machinations of government are often hilarious.

In demand as a speech-writer/doctor, Gyles made many friends, but was obviously irritated that his relatively high media profile (and his penchant for loud knitted jumpers on TV) held him back from office. But this did give him one brilliant opportunity in the house - when baited by Prescott muttering 'Woolly jumper, woolly jumper', he responded: "The advantage of a woolly jumper is that you can take it off at will. The disadvantage of a woolly mind is that you are lumbered with it for life."

Eventually though he was made a junior whip, joining an exclusive sub-section of the Club, and finding it great fun, and this is what the title of the book refers to - whips do not talk about how they work - he broke their code by publishing the diaries.

One senses that by the end, when Tony Blair beat John Major and ended an era, Brandreth was eager to get back to his former life, and that his wife Michele was glad that he'd got it out of his system.

A fascinating read, and interesting insight into the main characters and events of the Major government from the PM himself to Ken Clarke, Norman Lamont & the ERM, and not forgetting the Hamiltons and cash for questions debacle, and all that sleaze!.
I've always thought Brandreth was much more than just an entertainer in a silly jumper, and this proves the point admirably. ( )