Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors - Matt Chorley ****

By Brian Clegg

Matt Chorley is one of the best political radio presenters and podcasters around. His coverage of UK politics is sharp and insightful – but always with a sense of humour. He is also a newspaper columnist, though I confess I find his writing style there sometimes too farcical – but that doesn’t apply to this book, which takes in ’50 places that changed British Politics’. Although there is humour here (quite strong, for instance, on the infamous venture to Barnard Castle), this is primarily a serious look beyond Westminster at a series of key events in often unexpected locations around the country.

Some are small but significant, such as Gordon Brown getting locked in a toilet. Others involve an event that would change history more directly (or even personally, in the story of Spencer Perceval,  the only UK prime minister to be assassinated). Although many of the events were familiar to me as someone with an interest in politics, there was a lot that I never knew – and the whole presents a fascinating insight into the quirks and oddities of our political history.

I was recommended this book by Peter Mandelson (not personally, I hasten to add, but on another excellent podcast hosted by Chorley), and I’m glad I took up his suggestion. It may be (dull sounding) political history, but it’s never heavy and very enjoyable. The icing on the cake, which I am sure the author enjoyed, is that at the time of writing, Amazon had it listed as ‘#2 most gifted in toilet training.’

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Now Appearing is the blog of science writer Brian Clegg (www.brianclegg.net), author of Inflight Science, Before the Big Bang and The God Effect.