What
inspired you to write a collection of short stories?
I
used to write short stories when I was in my 20s and one won in a big
competition and was published in PEN New Fiction 2 in 1987, edited by the great
journalist and author Alan Massie - and featuring stories by proper writers like
Ian Rankin and Elaine Feinstein! So I knew I liked to write them. But for
several decades I had no time. The desire re awoke a little while ago and I got
one published based loosely on running the line for my sons football team (https://www.fairlightbooks.co.uk/short_stories/running-the-line/).
And
then I knew I wanted to write about what it had been like as a political special
adviser (spads as they are known) - a role I had held through most of the
Labour government 1997- 2010 in various departments - both to clarify my own
thoughts about the role and to give those outside the system a glimpse into what
it is all about. Not a pot boiler with murders and affairs (sorry) – those are
well covered in fiction by the House of Cards and the like. And not about the
press advisers with the swearing and frantic pace – that The Thick of It does so
well. And not even quite like the West Wing with its glamour – although I think
a lot of the themes they explore are similar to ones that fascinate me.
No, it was about
trying to do a decent job with so many pressures around meaning you are having
to balance, adapt, and improvise. Spinning endless plates with no end in
sight.
Your boss
won’t take a risk you want; you have to negotiate with the evil, folks at
Treasury or No 10; the press are on your case; the civil servants are not on
board; another department is blocking you; your family life is causing you
angst.
That was what I
wanted to write about. And I hope these stories will echo with those who have
worked in that world and will give some insight into what it felt like, at least
for me, for those outside that crazy system. All fiction, but based on the sort
of things, the sort of personalities that i worked with.
I
imagine writing these must be very different from any writing you do as part of
the day job. Can you tell us little about that?
For
so much of my career I was writing, writing, writing. But not fiction. It was
think tank reports, submissions, speeches for ministers - and myself - , white
papers, green papers, consultancy reports. In the job I have been doing for the
last 13 years (that I soon give up) running NPC, a think tank and consultancy
that tries to help charities become more impactful, I have mainly written
speeches, articles and so on. Quite a different world. The hardest thing was
getting back to writing dialogue. I don't think I've cracked that yet.
I
imagine also, it wasn't so much about doing research but more about what you
should include and what you should exclude. Can you tell us a little about
that?
The
stores are inspired by characters I worked with and events that I experienced.
There were lots of them! But I guess I wanted to use material that covered
different aspects of being a special adviser. Arriving and having to prove
yourself; getting the secretary of state you work for to give a speech that does
a bit more than they wanted; getting caught up in a leak inquiry; dealing with
your fellow spads when there are quite a few of you – as in the Treasury or No
10; fighting for PM time in No 10; worrying about the safety of your boss. They
are all there.
The last story in
the book has a special adviser in No 10 packing his bags, knowing his party are
about to lose the election. He reflects on whether, given this fantastic
opportunity, he did enough. Yes he had to negotiate the minefield. Yes so
sometimes you need to compromise to make progress. But really - did he do
enough to try to make the county better and improve lives for those in
need?
I
know you had a launch recently. How did that go?
Thanks
for asking Gill. It was a lot of work but it was worth it. We held it near
Westminster - sensible given it is about politics - and had a great turn out
including a number of people who had been or are ministers and special advisers.
Rather excitingly, because John Healy, now Secretary of State for Defence
attended for a bit, we got 'swept' by his security people beforehand. There were
great speeches by Debz Hobbs-Wyatt, who helped me edit the stories, and by Ed
Balls, once education Secretary, shadow Chancellor and star of Strictly. Ed was
very kind, suggesting that these stories were not only a good read but really
gave people - a real insight into what government is like. I underestimated
demand for the book so we sold out the 70 I had brought along within about 30
minutes. Hopefully others will buy on line!
Who
do you see as the ideal reader of this book?
I
hope that lots of people will be interested - they are nice and readable
stories! Obviously there is a niche among political folk, civil servants, and
maybe students and academics studying politics, policy and government. But I
feel that there may be a wider audience too as the basic idea of trying to do
the right thing when confronted by tensions with your boss, colleagues, family
issues is i think universal theme.
Do
you have any more works of fiction planned?
The
big question is what next? I am not sure if I want to do more short stories now
or to do the brave thing and start a novel. Lots to chew on.
And
any more events?
Not
many planned but I have been asked to go and talk about the stories by some
civil service book clubs and some politically engaged groups and so on. Open to
offers! And may thanks to you Gill and to Bridge House for publishing my
stories. It's not easy to get a short story collection published when you are an
unknown author. I am very grateful.
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