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In the Thick of It
- The Private Diaries of a Minister
- Narrated by: Alan Duncan
- Length: 23 hrs and 26 mins
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In the Thick of It
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Summary
As Minister of State at the Foreign Office, Alan Duncan was once described as Boris Johnson’s ‘pooper-scooper’. For two years, he deputised for the then Foreign Secretary, now Prime Minister. Few are more attuned to Boris’s strengths and weaknesses as a minister and his suitability for high office than the man who helped clear up his mistakes.
Riotously candid, these diaries cover the most turbulent period in recent British political history – from the eve of the referendum in 2016 to the UK’s eventual exit from the EU. As two prime ministers fall, two general elections unfold and a no-confidence vote is survived, Duncan records a treasure-trove of insider gossip, giving biting and often hilarious accounts of petty rivalries, poor decision-making, big egos, and big crises.
Nothing escapes Alan’s acerbic gaze. Across these unfiltered daily entries, he builds a revealing and often profound picture of UK politics and personalities. A rich seam of high politics and low intrigue, this is an account from deep inside the engine room of power.
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Critic reviews
‘Sensational … Johnson’s Cabinet [has been] rocked … It is unprecedented for a politician to lift the lid on feuding in the corridors of power so soon after leaving office … One of the most explosive political diaries ever to be published … Candid, caustic and colourful … In the style of great political diaries like those by Clark or Chips Channon that capture the spirit of the age. The political memoir of the year’
Daily Mail
‘More than merely bracingly readable … Duncan chronicles the despair, bafflement, plotting and rising acrimony’
The Times
‘In the Thick of It initially grabbed the headlines thanks to the sheer gleeful bitchiness of the insults littered throughout. But there’s a more serious message at the heart of this book … Duncan frankly has a point; that after four years of purging remain supporters from the Tory ranks, what’s left is hardly a government of titans’
Gaby Hinscliff, Guardian
‘Thoughtful and nuanced … Alan’s insights into the role of a foreign office minister provide many of the highlights of the book. I am enjoying it immensely’
Iain Dale
‘A compelling compendium of high gossip and low intrigue, full of withering put-downs and waspish observations’
Rachel Sylvester, The Times
‘The diaries are thoughtful, but can be brutal. The book contains deep thought about Britain’s long-term foreign policy objectives, enlivened by highly amusing recollections’
Salma Shah, Spectator
‘Always witty, usually waspish and unremittingly withering about those for whom he does not care … Closely observed, perceptive, amusing … They are fascinating; they are riveting’
Christopher Pincher, The Critic
‘One of the most sensational, no-holds-barred political diaries of the decade’
Tatler
‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Alan Duncan’s incendiary diaries, in which he buries more bodies than a Mafia undertaker’
Piers Morgan
'Hugely entertaining'
John Humphrys
What listeners say about In the Thick of It
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lorraine Simpson
- 10-05-21
Entertaing
This is a gossipy entertaining listen which gives some insight into the workings of government and the life of an MP, particularly during the Brexit years. If you are working class with a chip on your shoulder I suspect Duncan's style might grate on you but as someone who is working class without the chip I really enjoyed it. Yes he's very posh and does come across as a bit arrogant at times but still entertaining and his description of some colleagues is laugh out loud funny in places. I'll leave it for you to decide who 'pretty awful' is!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Paul c
- 30-04-21
Brilliant
Could not put it down. Very amusing insight into the workings of the government. Presented well by the author an all in all must read and should be classed as a comical none fiction!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- midge321
- 05-09-22
A narrow view of the world
I should have titled it “ The Arab world and our man in London “. Was he an MP or a middle man for the Middle East ? He seemed to always back the wrong side on every issue then complain when he got it wrong . He has a high opinion of himself when it is obvious that the party didn’t , hence why he stayed in junior roles . The audio book is him name dropping and saying everyone is an idiot apart from his inner circle , which then makes him out to be a snob of the worst kind , when he has nothing to be
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Geraldine Flavell
- 23-11-21
The wonderful Sir Alan Duncan
Great experience to listen to nearly 20 hours from a witness to and a player in British politics in the late 2010s. Fab-u-lous darling!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- mat brown
- 24-04-21
Very enjoyable
Not the best political/personal diary out there ( in no way competes with Tony Benns) but a cracking insight into the Tory party from a middling performer,
From the middle Alan Duncan gets the rare opportunity to see the wood from the trees and rarely if ever toes the party line ( maybe this is why he never summiteers the greasy pole) and you can’t help liking him for it
Hopefully Mr D will get a well earned peerage (let’s be honest he’d make a better go of it than some of the zombies in residence in the “other place” and the we can enjoy a second instalment of his diaries
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Claire
- 09-05-21
Does Alan Duncan hate women?
That would certainly seem to be the case, he doesn’t seem to rate very many he came across.
He has a very high opinion of himself but if like me you’re a Westminster geek, it’s a compelling first hand account even if he does sound very sour at times and is a dreadful sycophant. Despite that - which can be annoying - it’s worth sticking with it. And he reads it well.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jack Sutcliffe
- 21-04-21
Brilliant
Hugely enjoyed. A fascinating period told by an intelligent and decent man. I’m just sad it’s finished!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jason Croft
- 16-04-21
best audiobook. listened in two days
This is the first audiobook i have bought outside my monthly credit apart from some under £3 audiobooks.
i started listening yesterday and have almost finished.
i have never been so hooked.
Alan Duncan narrative is very good and it is really interesting hearing what he thinks of various people.
it is very candid and make me sad we do not have this guy in government anymore and i am not a tory voter.
i hope their will be another book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- C C Woodcock
- 27-08-21
Enjoyable but……..
I enjoyed this once I got use to the authors style in delivery. It is a good listen, he comes across as a competent minister and it is interesting to hear his thoughts on a lot of the “bigger” politicians. But…… he doesn’t seem to get the irony of a lot of what he says. Brexit supporting MPs are idiots and disloyal whilst at the same time he describes how he tried to get an urgent motion in parliament to test if Boris had support. Remain supporting MPs are all sensible and principled etc etc
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- Christopher C.
- 01-09-21
A bit vain
It was a bit vain in parts but interesting in parts but
Ok to
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