Anthony Seldon

Jonathan Meakin

Since its creation in the depths of the Great War in December 1916, the Cabinet Office has retained a uniquely central place in the ever-changing political landscape of the last century. While the revolving door of 10 Downing Street admits and ejects its inhabitants every few years, the Cabinet Office remains a constant, supporting and guiding successive Prime Ministers and their governments, regardless of their political leanings, all the while keeping the British state safe, stable and secure. It has been at the centre of everything – wars, intelligence briefings, spy scandals, disputed elections, political crises – and its eleven Cabinet Secretaries, ever at the right hand of their political masters, have borne witness to them all. The true ‘men of secrets’, these individuals are granted access to the meetings that determine the course of history, trusted with the most classified information the state possesses. Written with unparalleled access to documents and personnel by acclaimed political historian, commentator and biographer Anthony Seldon, this lavishly illustrated history is the definitive inside account of what has really gone on in the last 100 years of British politics.

The Birth of Modern Government

The Cabinet Office, 1916–2018

The walls of Number 10 have witnessed frantic diplomacy, tense cabinet meetings, the rise and fall of those at the dizzying heights of government, and decisions that have affected millions of people and every continent. And yet, for many people, the building remains a mystery. What really goes on behind that iconic black door? What does it look like? How have prime ministers shaped Downing Street, and how has it shaped them? This book will take readers through the famous door and into Downing Street. It will reveal the mystery and the majesty of 10 Downing Street. Spectacular photography of the building's interior will complement a text rich in detail. The book will chart the history of Number 10, looking at the personalities and the dramatic events that have shaped this building, from Robert Walpole during the eighteenth century to David Cameron in the twenty-first. Readers will discover how the building has evolved to meet modern needs. This book will be a wonderfully illustrated, comprehensive history and guide to Number 10 Downing Street. It is a must have for anybody interested in British history or politics.

Jonathan Meakin

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