Politipedia: A Compendium of Useful and Curious Facts about British Politics

Front Cover
Harriman House Limited, 2007 - Humor - 363 pages
The ultimate quirky reference work for voters, students and those in the Westminster village. Ideal for anyone looking to discover where their vote (and money!) actually go, or for those looking for quotes and fascinating titbits. The book aims to capture the entertaining essence of politics without taking up too much of the reader's valuable time.

Taking an 'outsiders' view of the system, the author sets out to ask all the vital questions about politics and then attempts to find answers to them - getting to the heart of each subject with brevity and humour.

Whilst the intention is not to mock politics or politicians, along the way there may be a few that do take an occasional knock, and the book refuses to be bland or too polite!

This is a fascinating work covering the intricacies of politics in the UK. Packed with curious facts to make readers laugh out loud, and enough intriguing snippets to provoke some lively debate.The ultimate quirky reference work for voters, studentsand those in the Westminster village. It is ideal foranyone looking to discover where their vote (and money!)actually go, or for those looking for quotes andfascinating titbits. The book aims to capture theentertaining essence of politics without taking up toomuch of the reader's ......
 

Contents

Alternative Politics
5
Backbench Rebellions and Government Defeats
11
Bill Boaks
18
Budget on the Back of an Envelope
24
Cabinet Composition
31
Catchphrases
38
Civil Service CrossExamination
44
Coalitions
50
Legacies
183
Marxist PinUps
189
Middle Ways
195
Newspeak and Doublethink
207
e Petitions
213
Plays
220
52
227
60
241

Days
62
Decades
72
Defectors
81
Demonstrations
84
Diaries
90
Direct Action
96
Divisions
102
Economists
108
Establishment
114
Expert Advice
122
Fathers of the House
128
5
135
Hansard
142
The Influential Unelected
149
15
150
saying nowt
155
Kids Politics
163
Leaders the AlsoRans
175
Poetry
245
Politician Quotes
251
Progress and the Lack of it
258
Quangos and Gocos
266
Secrecy freedom of information
271
Socialism is
277
Speakers of the House of Commons
284
Spies
290
Strikes
297
Systems of Government
303
Think Tanks
316
Tumbril Remarks
323
Unparliamentary Language
329
We are all
338
Whats Wrong With Government?
344
making your vote count
350
Bibliography
357
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2007)

 Nick Inman was born in Yorkshire in 1956 and studied politics at the University of Bristol in the 1970s before becoming a travel writer specialising in Spain. He is married with two children and lives in southwest France.

Bibliographic information