| Prime Ministers and Whitehall 1960-74 Contributor(s): Davis, Jon (Author) |
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ISBN: 1847251692 ISBN-13: 9781847251695 Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC OUR PRICE: $188.10 Product Type: Hardcover Published: December 2007 Annotation: The study of Prime Ministers and the reform of British central government in any era is fascinating. The interaction between the temporary, often inexperienced but largely elected ministers and the experienced but theoretically subservient senior civil servants provides enormous interest. This book concentrates on the years of Harold Macmillan, Harold Wilson, Alec Douglas Home and Edward Heath--years when the battle between Civil Service and Government was most intense. What makes this book more compelling is that many of the key players, including Richard Crossman, Barbara Castle and Tony Benn, wrote their own published accounts. Eighteen months after he came to power, Harold Wilson commissioned the Fulton Committee to look at the recruitment, training and management of civil servants. The Fulton report emerged in 1968 and became legendary for its difficult gestation and for the mini civil war, which developed within Whitehall over its implementation. This is but one episode in the history of British Prime Ministers' attempts to reform the Civil Service. The Fulton report remains a landmark in the administrative history of Britain. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Europe - Great Britain - General - Political Science |
| Dewey: 941.085 |
| Physical Information: 1.01" H x 6.48" W x 9.39" (1.23 lbs) 272 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - British Isles - Chronological Period - 1960's - Chronological Period - 1970's |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The study of prime ministers and the reforms of British central government in any era are fascinating. The interaction between the temporary, often inexperienced, but largely elected ministers and the experienced, but theoretically subservient, senior civil servants provides enormous interest. It is a matter that relates directly to many of the battles going on in British politics today. This book concentrates on the Harold Macmillan, Harold Wilson, Alec Douglas-Home and Edward Heath years when the battle between the Civil Service and the Government was at its most intense. What makes this book even more compelling is that many of the key players have given their own published accounts since leaving office - including Richard Crossman, Barbara Castle and Tony Benn. Dr Jon Davis book is based on years of meticulous research and it will be essential reading for any historian or student of British politics during the post-war years. |