This book was written in 2005 and so, it is beginning to show signs of dating but, it does perfectly illustrate the way in which Great Britain plc is not really run by anybody. An amalgam of interested parties, with financial clout, pull this way and that, in their own interest and the country meanders after them.

The more that one thinks about this, the more it strikes as the truth. No wonder nobody has been able to lead the people to the promised land offered by each political party: they have a small amount of power, but are by no means in control.

The danger of this book is that it can very easily lead to a fatalistic perspective: if no one has control, then no one can take control from them and fundamental change is not possible. I can't think of an argument against this perspective, but I refuse to lay back and accept the mess that we're making of our world. ( )

Published in 2003/2004, the recent events in the book are obviously not quite so recent any more, but the general themes about increasing corporate influence and unaccountable media, for example, still seem very pertinent. With the general election approaching and the current polls not really favouring either Labour or Conservatives, the discussion of First Past The Post and the decline of the major parties is even more relevant today than in the time of clear Labour majority in 2004. ( )

I have been reading versions of this book since the 70's when the interlocking tribes of the establishment were as exotic as reading about South Sea Islands to a lad from slums and sink council estates. Over the years, I have become a participant in many of the tribes described as I get involved in developing policy and tracking individuals as they move up and around the system. I often see the human face of the key players and the support they draw thus seeing the web of influence of why a decision is made. On the whole I am amazed that the country manages to be run as talent, dedication, vision, are not the reasons why many individuals raise to the top, Its often, ability to network, knowing what the power holders want to know, writing and communication of breadth ( rarely depth), avoiding risk, ability to spin and talk-up and being born or married into the key establishment network. Or having the luck to be at the begining of a new network.

Sour grapes? Well I long ago when faced with the choice of changing the world or having people know that you have changed the world, I went with the first as you can get more change if you let others think that it was their idea! ( )