Semi-Detached
eBook - ePub

Semi-Detached

  1. 480 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

Semi-Detached

About this book

Immensely respected on both sides of the House, John Biffen was a man of charm, wisdom and intelligence. Celebrated as one of the cleverest and nicest politicians around, he brought to the Conservative benches one of the most original economic minds of his generation. Biffen served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for Trade, but it was as Leader of the House of Commons that he really made his mark. Over time, he found himself increasingly at odds with the divisive nature and style of Margaret Thatcher's government. Thatcher was unreceptive and he was slowly frozen out. In sacking Biffen from her Cabinet, she lost one of the more human faces of her government. With its candid account of the subject's battle with depression, this fascinating autobiography, with extensive extracts from his unpublished diaries, is a portrait of great humanity and determination set against the backdrop of public life. Semi-Detached revisits dramatic and poignant moments from Biffen's personal life and from the corridors of power, presenting a moving and penetrating portrayal of one of the twentieth century's most remarkable politicians.

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Yes, you can access Semi-Detached by John Biffen in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Politics & International Relations & Politics. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Contents
  4. Foreword by Matthew Parris
  5. Preface by Sarah Biffen
  6. 1: Early childhood
  7. 2: Hill Farm: house and yard
  8. 3: Farming and Christmas
  9. 4: Cheese-making and markets
  10. 5: Parents and family
  11. 6: Combwich village and school
  12. 7: Village at war
  13. 8: RAF Steart: village in victory
  14. 9: Dr Morganā€™s School: background
  15. 10: Dr Morganā€™s School: staff
  16. 11: Dr Morganā€™s School: friends
  17. 12: Debating and politics
  18. 13: Dr Morganā€™s School: Charles Key and Cambridge
  19. 14: Call-up and early army days
  20. 15: Basic training
  21. 16: Training for a trade
  22. 17: To the Canal Zone
  23. 18: Fayid
  24. 19: Cyprus
  25. 20: Release
  26. 21: Cambridge: going up
  27. 22: Jesus College: life
  28. 23: History
  29. 24: College routine and May ball
  30. 25: Cambridge University Conservative Association
  31. 26: Cambridge Union
  32. 27: Birmingham
  33. 28: Oswestry: getting there and adoption
  34. 29: Oswestry election
  35. 30: Profumo and my maiden speech
  36. 31: Medical problems and subterfuge
  37. 32: Shadow Technology and the Wilson government
  38. 33: Prices and incomes battles 1966ā€“68
  39. 34: Enoch Powell
  40. 35: Edward Heath
  41. 36: Battle over Europe
  42. 37: The 1922 Committee and emergence of Margaret Thatcher
  43. 38: Opposition front bench
  44. 39: Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  45. 40: Trade
  46. 41: Leader of the House
  47. 42: Out of favour
  48. 43: Margaret Thatcher
  49. 44: Election of Betty Boothroyd as Speaker
  50. 45: Final time in the Commons
  51. 46: Lords
  52. Appendix: Michael Foot letter
  53. Index
  54. Plates
  55. Copyright