In the Firing Line - Softcover

Mawhinney, Brian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 000274063X ISBN 13: 9780002740630

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2000

As its chairman at the last general election, Sir Brian Mawhinney witnessed the greatest defeat of the Conservative Party this century. Many would say he had an impossible task but, as the man the press loved to hate, he found himself in the firing line.

He became John Major’s most trusted lieutenant, and held a unique and trusted place at the very heart of the crumbling Conservative government. Brian Mawhinney’s observations of the final weeks of power and his understandings of the reasons for their defeat at the polls are as original as they are authoritative.

In the Firing Line reveals a man schooled in the art of political controversy. Finding himself in the Northern Ireland office, he quickly learnt to look after himself in the heated and entrenched conflict. Later, as a senior government minister, he gained a reputation as a political bruiser.

However, another side to Brian Mawhinney is revealed in this unique book. Beliefs that were to drive much of his ambition and political philosophy. As a committed Christian he had to face up to the ‘interference’ of the established Church and the Evangelical leaders with whom he had much sympathy. Family policy and Christian education reform all became hot potatoes he had to handle.

In the Firing Line is the reflections of an outsider who became an insider and very nearly reached the top.

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Review:

In The Firing Line by Brian Mawhinney is a political memoir with a real difference: it's an honest account of one politician grappling with his faith during several ministerial posts and over 11 years at the centre of power. The book details Mawhinney's life and influences: raised as a devout Evangelical Christian in the Unionist area of Northern Ireland, he went to America where he met his wife and, after a PhD in radiation biology, he taught for several years in the United States and London before entering politics at the age of 39. His background marks him out as a unique politician: he is one of a very few Ulster men to hold high office in the United Kingdom and the highest serving Evangelical in government for more than 50 years. The book tells of the conflicts he faced with the political establishment and the Church and how his faith shaped the policy decisions he made--often backed up with quotes from the Bible. He reveals how he faced a furious reaction from people and politicians when he first joined the Northern Ireland Office and describes why the Conservatives suffered the worst electoral defeat for over 150 years, while he was at the helm as Party Chairman. He has a reputation as a political bruiser, but this book shows that he is a vulnerable man with deeply held convictions who very often finds himself in the firing line. --Carina Trimingham

Synopsis:

He became John Major's most trusted lieutenant, and held a unique and trusted place at the very heart of the crumbling Conservative government. Brian Mawhinney offers his observations of the final weeks of power and his understandings of the reasons for their defeat at the polls. His account reveals a man schooled in the art of political controversy. Finding himself in the Northern Ireland office, he quickly learnt to look after himself in the heated and entrenched conflict. Later, as a senior government minister, he gained a reputation as a political bruiser. However, another side to Brian Mawhinney is revealed in this unique book. Beliefs that were to drive much of his ambition and political philosophy. As a committed Christian he had to face up to the "interference" of the established Church and the Evangelical leaders with whom he had much sympathy. Family policy and Christian education reform all became hot potatoes he had to handle.

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