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Unleashing Demons

The Inside Story of Brexit

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Unleashing Demons

By: Craig Oliver
Narrated by: Craig Oliver
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About this listen

 'Utterly fascinating...I suspect that every historian of the period will regard it as indispensable to appreciating this extraordinary phase in our history.' John Simpson

'The compelling insider's account of the man who was at the centre of the Downing Street web' Nick Robinson

'This is one of the most vivid, frank and exciting inside accounts to have been written for years.' Anthony Seldon

'A gripping fly-on-the-wall account of the frenzy in Downing Street during the EU campaign.' Robert Peston

As David Cameron's director of Politics and communications, Craig Oliver was in the room at every key moment during the EU referendum - the biggest political event in the UK since World War 2.

Craig Oliver worked with all the players, including David Cameron, George Osbourne, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Theresa May and Peter Mandelson.

Unleashing Demons is based on his extensive notes, detailing everything from the decision to call a referendum, to the subsequent civil war in the Conservative Party and the aftermath of the shocking result.

This is raw history at its very best, packed with enthralling detail and colourful anecdotes from behind the closed doors of the campaign that changed British history.

(P) 2016 Hodder & Stoughton©2016 Craig Oliver Political Science Politics & Government Thought-Provoking Liberalism Inspiring United Kingdom Socialism Taxation

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Critic reviews

Unleashing Demons...has the vividness and pace of a political thriller. Extraordinarily candid...
THE BOOK THAT WILL SET WESTMINSTER ABLAZE
Gripping reading
Craig Oliver's account of his time as David Cameron's Director of Communications in Downing Street during the EU referendum will almost certainly prove to be the most important document for understanding what happened and why it all ended as it did. Oliver has managed the difficult trick of being frank as well as loyal, and his words have a remarkable immediacy. I found his book utterly fascinating, and I suspect that every historian of the period will regard it as indispensable to appreciating this extraordinary phase in our history.
Part memoir, part diary, this is one of the most vivid, frank and exciting inside accounts to have been written for years. It points its forensic beam into the inner sanctums of power during one of the most crucial episodes in British history since the war. Stunning and highly readable. It will make uncomfortable reading for a few, but hugely enlightening and enjoyable reading for the many.
Wish you could have been a fly on the wall of Number 10 during the EU referendum campaign? No need. This is the compelling insider's account of the man who was at the centre of the Downing Street web as David Cameron took the decisions which led to Britain voting to leave the EU.
A gripping fly-on-the-wall account of the frenzy in Downing Street during the EU campaign.
This is contemporary history at its best...It has pace, insider info and a bit of chutzpah.'
All stars
Most relevant
EU. Thank God we are out despite the remainer views of people like Craig. I’m fluent in French and Spanish. I worked in France before they abandoned their currency. The EU is finished! Biased and myopic book.

Biased Remainer view of the EU

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Really insightful view of what was going on behind the scenes during the referendum campaign. Shame this was not visible more during the campaign, perhaps the results would have been different.

Insightful

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A fascinating insight into the biggest UK political event for a generation. Craig is an excellent narrator and brings the events leading up to Brexit to life.

The pace of the book is spot on. The description of waves of confidence/doubt, in Number 10 gives you a sense of the high stakes in play here.

Cannot recommend this book highly enough.

A fascinating insight ...

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A newspaper reviewer highlights the fact that in the book author's opinion, only he (Craig Oliver) and the Prime Minister at the time (David Cameron). "got it right".
That's the wrong mindset in which to listen to this book.This is an wholly idiosyncratic but sincere insider account of a turbulent period in British politics. Knowing the outcome of the Referendum, I listened to and marvelled at the manipulations of other politicians who were more intent on furthering their individual careers than being loyal to the man who led the Conservative Party back into power.
The interaction between the BBC and Downing Street, and between the latter and print journalists is equally absorbing.
This book is too "raw" and hastily-written to be well structured prose, but what a disturbing insight it provides into the machinations of those who seek to govern us. The author's delivery is too garbled at times, but this is a fascinating book that I would highly recommend listening to, but beware it will destroy any remaining trust one has in democratic politics.

A genuine eye-opener

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If you are interested in Brexit then you will enjoy this e-book. Thoroughly good listening that gives some gossipy insight into the background and mess that led to the referendum.

Fascinating

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