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).

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

• 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