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What Does Jeremy Think?

Jeremy Heywood and the Making of Modern Britain

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About this listen

 The Sunday Times Bestseller

‘Seasoned Whitehall watchers often remark: “It wouldn’t have been like this if Jeremy Heywood were still around.” … How could it be that the effectiveness of the once-revered civil service had become reliant on a single man?’ Guardian

‘This book should be read in a similar spirit to Mantel’s masterpieces – as a portrait of an exceptional man who was always at the centre of events … Invaluable’ Guardian

As a young civil servant, Jeremy Heywood’s insightful questioning of the status quo pushed him to the centre of political power in this country for more than 25 years.

He directly served four Prime Ministers in various roles including as the first and only Permanent Secretary of 10 Downing Street, the Cabinet Secretary and the Head of the Home Civil Service. He was at the centre of every crisis from the early 1990s until 2018 and most of the key meetings. Invariably, when faced with a new policy initiative a Prime Minister’s first response would be: ‘but what does Jeremy think?’

Jeremy worked up until his death, retiring just a few days before he died from lung cancer in October 2018. This book began as a joint effort between Jeremy and his wife Suzanne – working together in the last months of his life. Suzanne completed the work after his death.

In a time of political uncertainty, this extraordinary book offers an unforgettable and unprecedented insight into political decision-making, crisis management and the extraordinary role of the civil service. It is also a moving celebration of Heywood’s life in the beating heart of UK politics, and a man who for so long was the most powerful non-famous name in Britain.

(Sunday Times Bestseller, February 2021)

 Elections & Political Process Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Taxation

Critic reviews

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER (February 2021)

‘I just couldn’t put it down. A fabulous book’
Iain Dale, LBC

‘This book should be read in a similar spirit to Mantel’s masterpieces – as a portrait of an exceptional man who was always at the centre of events … It will be invaluable as a source for scholars and historians both as to how, when, why and by whom certain decisions were taken, and to what the decision-making process within government looks like up close’ Guardian

‘This is an astonishing book … She captures a remarkable sweep of recent UK political history and the central part that her late husband – a brilliant product and architect of the UK civil service and arguably the most influential cabinet secretary of modern times – played in making it work better’
Financial Times

‘An intimate personal memoir that is in places very moving and a fascinating political history that is at times revelatory … The book brilliantly captures the way in which the personal and political are inextricably entwined’
The Times

‘A superbly detailed account of how the internal organs of British power function … It is as fair-minded as the man at its centre … An invaluable contribution to the historical record…Amid the relentless politics, there is a very touching story here of the highs and lows of balancing careers, a relationship and domestic life. The basic humanity that shines through from both author and her husband, is perhaps the book’s most important and enduring tribute’
TLS

‘A fitting tribute to an important public servant and a valuable insider account for political junkies … She has succeeded hands down in justifying her belief that her husband was a worthy subject’
Sunday Times

All stars
Most relevant
Jeremy Heywood served Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Teresa May mainly as cabinet secretary but later as also head if they civil service. He was there for all the trails abs tribulations of the last 30 years starting with Black Wednesday and ending with Brexit. You get a clear sense of what the civil service is, how it has changed and why it is the bedrock of our nations. It says something about the man that all 4 prime ministers who he served spoke at his funeral.

A remarkable person. The United Kingdom were lucky to have him.

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interesting and occassionally a bit heavy going, trying to remember who some of the players were. Didnt realise how much a government relies on the civil service to work out how to implement its policies, which often are barely half baked. Interesting how Cameron so often knifed his coalition partners in the back. The referendum to change the voting sytem was the main case of this. (With hind-sight The LibDems should have walked,being a very junior partner did not do them any good) Would have liked when she referred to her children in the narrative for her to mention their ages.Just so the listener knows where we are in the time line. Only on two occassions does this happen "Johnny was now taking his GCSEs" and "the twins were now 15".

interesting background to modern politics

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A sympathetically written memoir of Jeremy Heywood, one of Britain’s more successful and influential civil servants. He was adviser to John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May.

The book was written by Jeremy’s wife, Suzanne, a high flier in her own right, after he was diagnosed with cancer. It ends with Jeremy’s death, working almost to the last, and tributes by the prime ministers he served. It provides a unique insight into the workings of Whitehall and the relationship between the civil service and our country’s elected leaders. The book provides an inside view of Black Wednesday, the financial crisis, Brexit and much more.

Some years of Suzanne Heywood’s early life was spent aboard a yacht sailing the world before being abandoned in New Zealand at the age of 16. Her autobiography, Wavewalker, is a great read and listen and is available on Audible.

Essential reading on how Government works

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Hugely interesting to hear this insider account - especially since I remember most of the events covered. Slight sense that JH is being portrayed as always-right and squeaky clean, which is a shame. Horrifying to learn the ineptitude and inability to seek out expertise that shapes government decisions (aircraft carriers etc), but one shouldn't be surprised, really. The last days of JH's life are beautifully conveyed. Really moving; one feels present in the room. Overall, I think the text would be improved if Suzanne Heywood considered using pronouns instead of repeating the word 'Jeremy' over and over within the same sentence/paragraph. This jarred, but I guess it was an editorial decision.

Behind-the-scenes account

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Fitting tribute to a wonderful and brilliant man - what a shame for all of us he is no longer with us.

A fitting tribute

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