What Does Jeremy Think?: Jeremy Heywood and the Making of Modern Britain

Jeremy Heywood was a key figure in British politics for over 25 years, serving four Prime Ministers in various roles. This book, completed by his wife Suzanne after his death, offers an unprecedented insight into political decision-making, crisis management, and the role of the civil service. It is a moving celebration of Heywoods life and a man who was the most powerful non-famous name in Britain.

Format: Hardback
Length: 560 pages
Publication date: 04 February 2021
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

The Sunday Times Bestseller, 'Seasoned Whitehall watchers often remark: "It wouldn't have been like this if Jeremy Heywood were still around."... How could it be that the effectiveness of the once-revered civil service had become reliant on a single man?

The Guardian's review of 'The Civil Service: A Portrait of Jeremy Heywood' states that the book should be read in a similar spirit to Mantel's masterpieces, as it portrays an exceptional man who was always at the center of events. Jeremy Heywood, a young civil servant, pushed himself to the center of political power in the UK for more than 25 years, serving four Prime Ministers in various roles, including as the first and only Permanent Secretary of 10 Downing Street, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Head of the Home Civil Service. He was at the center of every crisis from the early 1990s until 2018, and most of the key meetings. When faced with a new policy initiative, a Prime Minister's first response would invariably be, "But what does Jeremy think?"

Jeremy worked up until his death, retiring just a few days before he died from lung cancer in October 2018. This book began as a joint effort between Jeremy and his wife Suzanne, working together in the last months of his life. Suzanne completed the work after his death.

In a time of political uncertainty, this extraordinary book offers an unforgettable and unprecedented insight into political decision-making, crisis management, and the extraordinary role of the civil service. It is also a moving celebration of Heywoods' life in the beating heart of UK politics, and a man who for so long was the most powerful non-famous name in Britain.

Weight: 872g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 54 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008353124