{"title":"Greg Hurst","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"charles-kennedy-book-greg-hurst-9781842751763","title":"Charles Kennedy","description":"'Does it trouble you that every single politician to whom we've spoken in preparing for this interview said the same thing - you're interviewing Charles Kennedy? I hope he's sober.' - Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight. Charles Kennedy is an enigma. A talented strategist and an intuitive media performer and communicator - a rare combination - he became one of the best-known and most liked politicians of his generation, appearing on chat shows and seeming to break the mould of more conventional politicians. He led the Liberal Democrats during a remarkably successful period in the party's turbulent history to achieve the best result for a third party in more than eighty years at the general election of 2005. Yet throughout there were doubts. As a shy, introverted man Kennedy was often uncomfortable with his persona as a public figure. He faced criticism of inactivity whenever the media spotlight turned away from him. Kennedy has an extraordinary start to his career as a member of Parliament, winning his seat for the Social Democratic Party against all expectations at just twenty-three. He was one of the few politicians to emerge with credit from the disastrous merger of the SDP and the Liberal Party in 1988 and was tipped from an early age as a future leader. His achievements once he became leader were considerable. He broke with the strategy of his predecessors to step out from Labour's shadow and to establish the Liberal Democrats as an independent and growing opposition force. As Britain prepared to invade Iraq, he became the first opposition party leader to oppose British military action since Hugh Gaitskell led protests against the Suez campaign in 1956. But nemesis was near. Persistent worries circulated privately about his health, with growing rumours of a barely managed drink problem. Slowly the secret of his alcoholism was shared among senior party figures. At first they tried to support him but, after a series of calamitous performances in public and private, confidence in him gradually drained away. The confrontation of Kennedy by some of his ablest MPs precipitated one of the most dramatic episodes in recent British political history as he tried to fight his critics before being forced to relinquish leadership of his party. As a correspondent with \"The Times\", Greg Hurst was closer to the Liberal Democrats during Charles Kennedy's leadership than any other journalist. This biography is the gripping story of a talented, attractive occasionally courageous but tragically flawed man. Drawing on frank accounts from those closest to Kennedy, Hurst guides us through his difficult start as Liberal Democrat leader, his decision to oppose the Iraq war, the party's growing electoral strength and the events that led to Kennedy's resignation and the subsequent election of Sir Menzies Campbell as leader.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49540671668497,"sku":"GOR001386276","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49653564604689,"sku":"GOR001859015","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51596524355857,"sku":"GOR006019884","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/184275176X.jpg?v=1751280195"},{"product_id":"charles-kennedy-book-greg-hurst-9780413777898","title":"Charles Kennedy","description":"Charles Kennedy was found dead on 1 June 2015. He was only 55 years of age. His death was due to complications resulting from alcohol abuse over many years. Much has been written about his addiction to alcohol, with justification. The condition dominated his life for at least 25 years, brought about the breakdown of his marriage and caused him to lie repeatedly about the problem. Those closest to him, family and colleagues, tried to help him but as Kennedy could not help himself, all their efforts were in vain. However, this tragic flaw which resulted in his premature death should not obscure Kennedy's career in politics, which began in 1983, with his election to parliament as the SDP member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye. He was just 23 years of age. Kennedy's victory was a shock. The seat had been held for the Conservatives by Hamish Gray since 1970. Several prominent candidates failed to win seats in 1983, including Menzies Campbell and it was suggested Kennedy felt 'undeserving' of his success, which may have sown the first seeds of self-doubt that dogged him throughout his career. Tipped as a future leader of his party at an early stage, Kennedy supported the merger of the SDP with the Liberal party in 1988. The process caused much turbulence but once the dust had settled, Kennedy emerged with credit. When Paddy Ashdown resigned in 1999, Kennedy was a candidate to succeed him and after several tortuous rounds of voting, he emerged as the victor over Simon Hughes. Kennedy inherited a financially strong party with 46 MPs, 10 MEPs, 17 MSPs in Edinburgh and six AMs in Cardiff. When he resigned the leadership in 2006 the Lib Dem's strength in Westminster had risen to 62 MPs and Kennedy was described as the most successful third party leader for more than eighty years. During Kennedy's tenure of office, he abandoned the traditional Lib-Lab cooperation and followed an independent route to position his party as the natural party of opposition. He also showed strong conviction when opposing Britain's planned involvement in the Iraq war in 2003. But nemesis was near. Rumours of his addiction to alcohol began to leak out and further humiliating public appearances, when drunk, brought matters to a head and he was forced to resign the leadership. This biography is a frank account of Charles Kennedy's political career that began in triumph and ended in tragedy.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49575253377297,"sku":"GOR007429324","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49653462499601,"sku":"GOR010765281","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49728238813457,"sku":"NGR9780413777898","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51514223919377,"sku":"GOR009553163","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0413777898.jpg?v=1751071704"},{"product_id":"the-aerobics-instructor-s-handbook-what-to-teach-and-how-to-teach-it-effectively-book-nigel-champion-9780713653595","title":"The Aerobics Instructor's Handbook : What to Teach, and How to Teach It Effectively!","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49630232117521,"sku":"GOR002277910","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49667644817681,"sku":"GOR002691400","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50980510531857,"sku":"GOR009706728","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0713653590.jpg?v=1750817091"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-ie\/collections\/author-books-by-greg-hurst.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}