Whitehall The Street that Shaped a Nation

'The 'Smeargate affair' is merely a footnote in its long history of scandal, spin and cover-up. The most famous street in British politics has always had a dark side' 4 page edited extract, Independent 4/5 'While Brown's book has no pretensions to academic scholarship, it is an extremely informative and enjoyable read, overflowing with anecdotal details. With a subject like Whitehall he could hardly go wrong, and barely a page fails to yield some colourful historical nugget...It may well be that in the age of 24-hour news and sofa government, Whitehall will never again play host to the cockfights, love affairs and punch-ups of old. But if this book tells us anything, it is that court politics and the lust for power never go out of fashion. Gordon Brown may not play tennis in his underpants, but, where personal ambition and glowering insecurity are concerned, he could surely teach the Tudors a thing or two' Four star review, Daily Telegraph 2/5 'Whitehall: Secrets of Britain's most powerful street. It is at the heart of British government and over the centuries it has been the backdrop for some of the greatest scandals and love affairs, involving figures from Admiral Nelson to John Prescott' Two-page feature, Express 8/5 'Clearly there are still a few thousand houses owned by our right honourable ladies and gentlemen that lack mock-Tudor beams. In attendance for the launch of the Independent deputy political editor Colin Brown's Whitehall: The Street that Shaped a Nation, were Brownite bruiser Charlie Whelan (the PM's former spin doctor) and former shadow home secretary, David Davis. Brown quipped that the book had already been pulped and reprinted with the subtitle: "The Street That Shamed a Nation". He also revealed that, at a Downing Street party for lobby journalists, health secretary Alan Johnson asked Brown what the collective noun for journalists was. After suggesting it was a "smear", Brown admitted that, following the McBride email scandal, perhaps "smear" was the collective noun for Downing Street special advisors instead' Bookseller Magazine 22/5 'The anonymous facades of Whitehall's buildings belie its status as Britain's most politically important street. As a newspaper political correspondent at the nearby Houses of Parliament for 30 years, Colin Brown is well-acquainted with his subject, and his affection for it shines through. This beautifully illustrated book is full of fascinating anecdotes. It brings the past to life with admirable clarity and is a delight to read' Press Association 23/5 'With a cast ranging from Cardinal Wolsey, renowned for his "powers of persuasion", to his seedy counterpart Alastair Campbell, this guide to the well-guarded bastions of power glitters with interest on every page...In 1991, the IRA launched mortars at No10 during a Cabinet meeting. "I think we'd better start again," said John Major after "a huge splinter...stabbed the wall like a dagger". Other dramas on this street include the execution of Charles I by axemen with false beards' Independent 11/6