Splendid! Splendid! - Mark Garnett

Willie Whitelaw (1918-99) was one of the most popular politicians of recent times. During a career lasting half a century, he made friends everywhere - among allies and opponents, officials who worked with him, and the general public. Yet Whitelaw was deeply involved in policies which have caused lasting bitterness. As the first Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1972-3) he forged a political settlement which collapsed when angry Protestant workers brought Ulster to a standstill. During his time as Home Secretary (1979-83) he faced an outbreak of rioting which spread throughout England. As Margaret Thatcher's loyal lieutenant, he lent crucial support to economic measures which helped to provoke this unprecedented disorder. The story of Whitelaw's life explains much about changes in the party he served and the country he loved. Splendid! Splendid!, unlike his own 1989 memoirs, tells the whole story. Written with his full co-operation, it reveals the man behind the affable public persona. It is a portrait of a unique individual - shrewd, good-natured, public-spirited and loyal.;At the same time, it discloses his flaws - his explosive temper, his love of intrigue, and his anxiety to be all things to all men. The book is based on extensive interviews, as well as documentary evidence which includes much unpublished material. It offers new insights into such incidents as Whitelaw's secret talks with the IRA, the Iranian Embassy siege, the 1981 riots, and the rise and fall of Margaret Thatcher. Above all, it is a reminder of a lost age when politicians earned respect for their integrity - and continued to fight for their principles when forces outside their control were undermining the society they had hoped to preserve.