Ungovernable

A remarkable insight into a critical moment. Hart’s wit and tolerance makes his record of a system in crisis all the more convincing and troubling – Rory StewartHe is the insiders’ insider and shows how Government works – or actually doesn’t. This is a balls-up-to-break-down account of how the Tories managed to get through multiple Prime Ministers and a large majority to fall flat on their faces. You couldn’t make it up – Michael Dobbs, author of House of CardsSimon Hart is a secret masochist – writing a diary every night after a punishing day as Chief Whip. But the results of his labours are a joy. Engrossing, entertaining, poignant and, at times, so funny I was laughing out loud. The Whips’ Office, he says, is a ‘field hospital’ for his colleagues. Some hospital, some colleagues. Politics in the raw, and all the better for it – RT Hon Jack StrawHighly readable … Hart has a brilliant eye for moments of high farce * The Guardian *Extraordinary – John Sopel, on The News Agents podcastCompletely wild – George Osborne, on the Political Currency: EMQs podcastHilarious – Libby Purves, via X/Twitter

Simon Hart was MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire between 2010 and 2024. Previously a chartered surveyor, Simon was the former chief executive officer of the Countryside Alliance, the UK’s largest rural lobbying group, between 2003 and 2010. He served on four select committees and then, following Theresa May’s election as prime minister in 2016, became her representative on the Committee for Standards in Public Life. He was appointed as Minister for Implementation in the Cabinet Office under Boris Johnson, and then joined the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales. He later resigned from his government the day before Johnson himself surrendered. In October 2022, Rishi Sunak invited him to become Chief Whip, where he became one of the few chief whips to last an entire premiership. He is married with two adult children, and lives in Pembrokeshire.