Ian Martin – författare

The perfect gift for fans of The Thick of It, Have I Got News for You and general moaning about the UK government. The country has chosen but might they have chosen YOU to be the next Prime Minister?'I absolutely loved it. And so did the anaesthetist.' Michael Palin'‘Ian Martin always makes me cry. With laughter, I should probably add.’ Marina Hyde___________Most of us know our limitations, especially when it comes to a career choice. We watch documentaries about A&E departments and the heroes who work there, and we think no. Oh no, thanks very much. We wouldn't have the nerve, or the stamina, or the resilience to do THAT.But who amongst us hasn’t looked at the woeful performance of a prime minister and thought: ‘Really, is that all there is to it? Even I could do that’.Now is your opportunity to familiarise yourself with what the job of prime minister actually is. This satirical and illuminating guide takes you through the craft and mystery of it all – packed full of quizzes, personality tests, word searches and much more – to see if you’ve got what it takes. In this book you will find:- Media training: top professional advice for the novice aspirational politician, including live rehearsals with interviewers, trick questions, sustained ignoring and how to choose the perfect walk on track.- PM Cards: which one of the past PMs is your political guiding light?- How to survive your first year: secure a nickname and push through as much as you can.- A Brief History of the Office of PMs: it won't surprise you to learn that they simply made it up as they went along.Written by Ian Martin, Emmy award winning writer, who was a core member for The Thick of It (and their swearing consultant too), Veep and The Death of Stalin, this is the ultimate guide to keep you and the family (or should we say your performance coaches) busy to see whether you’re going to be our next Prime Minister this year.GOOD LUCK!

The perfect parody Christmas gift book for that selfish egomaniac in your life - written by Ian Martin, writer for The Thick of It and Veep'Laughed so much I nearly forgot the last eight years!' Otto English'Ian Martin has produced a traumatically funny book that takes its place in the noble and historic pantheon of British political satire.' The New European'From the pen of the genius Ian Martin - I cannot tell you how f***king funny it is' John Niven______Boris Johnson has been a towering figure for decades in the worlds of politics, journalism and personal scandal. Somehow, he always bounces back. How does he do it? And how might we mere mortals elevate our piffling lives to the same levels of greatness?Learn how to be more like Boris in this parody companion to Johnson's own account of the last few years. Inside you'll find easy-to-recreate social gambits, life rules and some great excuses that'll get you out of all sorts of tricky situations. Plus, learn how to:- Trivialise everything with buffoonery- Rebuild reality using various self-centred techniques- Smash everything to pieces. Then try to fix it. And then smash it again. . .LET US ALL BE MORE BORIS!

The international intervention after the 2011 Libyan uprising against Muammar Gaddafi was initially considered a remarkable success: the UN Security Council's first application of the 'responsibility to protect' doctrine; an impending civilian massacre prevented; and an opportunity for democratic forces to lead Libya out of a forty-year dictatorship. But such optimism was soon dashed. Successive governments failed to establish authority over the ever-proliferating armed groups; divisions among regions and cities, Islamists and others, split the country into rival administrations and exploded into civil war; external intervention escalated. Ian Martin gives his first-hand view of the questions raised by the international engagement. Was it a justified response to the threat against civilians? What brought about the Security Council resolutions, including authorising military action? How did NATO act upon that authorisation? What role did Special Forces operations play in the rebels' victory? Was a peaceful political settlement ever possible? What post-conflict planning was undertaken, and should or could there have been a major peacekeeping or stabilisation mission during the transition? Was the first election held too soon?As Western interventions are reassessed and Libya continues to struggle for stability, this is a unique account of a critical period, by a senior international official who was close to the events.