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Having lost an election, been thrown out by their party, or retired on grounds of ill-health, what do former British prime ministers do? In the first book to look at the lives, political roles and influence of former prime ministers, Theakston analyzes all the former prime ministers from Walpole in the 18th century to Blair today.

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Introduction Walpole to Shelburne Addington to Melbourne Peel to Rosebery Salisbury to Asquith LLoyd George to Chamberlain Attlee to Douglas-Home Heath to Callaghan Thatcher to Blair Comparative Perspectives

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´This is a most fascinating, superbly readable book.´ - Journal of Liberal History

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KEVIN THEAKSTON is Professor of British Government at the University of Leeds, UK and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. His previous books include: Leadership in Whitehall (1999), Winston Churchill and the British Constitution (2004), and (edited) British Foreign Secretaries Since 1974 (2004).

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