Chance Witness: An Outsider's Life in Politics

He is not only the most astute of political commentators, he is one of the most completely entertaining. Matthew Parris made little impression in his career as a Tory candidate (for which, as a sardonically witty and iconoclastic gay man, he was perhaps not best suited), but in his subsequent career as one of the shrewdest observers of the political scene, he has few equals.

The book's jacket gives some idea of the unbuttoned tone here: while John Mortimer "thank(s) God for Matthew Parris", Alan Clark is quoted as describing him as an "absolute sh**". And it's Parris' fearlessness (combined with that scalpel-honed wit) that makes this hefty volume the kind of book that (despite its length) will be consumed avidly. Parris was close to the centre of power (Margaret Thatcher no less) but always remained an outsider. Of course, his spell in Mrs Thatcher's office is by far the most entertaining part of the book, his dealings with the Iron Lady being no less than catastrophic. But while delivering devastating pen-portraits of that lady, he is equally exuberant in his pictures of such luminaries as Peter Mandelson (whom he famously "outed"), Tony Blair and Michael Portillo. This is eccentric, highly personal writing, but the combination of mordant humour and fierce intelligence is absolutely irresistible. After reading it, the reader may wonder how Parris lasted for five minutes as part of Margaret Thatcher's humourless government. --Barry Forshaw

The early section about Matthew's happy but highly unusual childhood travelling across Rhodesia, Swaziland and Jamaica, is well written but it would be better suited as backup to his travel books, and is not nearly as good as what follows.

When Matthew lands in England to go to Cambridge University, then his book really takes off. Matthew's highly cynical, but humourously realistic take on the British institutions he encounters (Cambridge, the Foreign Office and eventually the House of Commons) is very enlightening and he writes in such a way you can't help but agree with him.

Matthew is also well-placed to comment on several popular politicians of recent years including Michael Portillo and John Patten. He may have remained merely a backbench MP but he got to know Margaret Thatcher very well when she was in office, and he manages to capture in his own way her many strengths and flaws, building a very complete picture of this most domineering of politicians.

His opinion of John Major is equally good, as he describes the various subtleties that lay behind his "boring" image and shows the man to be a much stronger character than he was often perceived in his time. His opinion of Tony Blair is also very well written. Matthew spotted far earlier than most of us the flaws of our current Prime Minister, a charismatic figure with an excellent grasp of oral rhetoric who was (and still is in many ways) American-influenced in his speeches and politics, with a shallow grasp of policies and detail.

At the same time, Matthew shows himself to be slightly eccentric, bumbling to a degree and insecure almost to the point of madness. His homosexuality is revealed to be a large factor in this, and the sections on Clapham Common as well his Newsnight encounter capture this very well.

A highly perceptive and readable biography. Well worth a look.


Chance upon this book and you'll be rewarded!   February 3, 2004
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Matthew Parris cannot be accused of self-service in this enjoyable "memoir", a series of recollections of important events and important people's lives in which he was a bit player.

He has been through many peripheral roles - working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as a correspondent clerk for Mrs Thatcher when she was Leader of the Opposition, a backbench MP and a parliamentary speechwriter. He delivers opinions, views and observances with wit and panache. He is a good story teller, and his brushes with those in authority are genuinely amusing.

It is also a very touching book - we learn how hard he found it cruising on Clapham Common, a very moving moment. Some may not approve of the way that he has laid his life bare, but he feels genuinely proud of the small advances he feels he contributed to for equality for homosexuals.

He has also reprinted many amusing sketches. Having read a collection of his sketches (Off-Message), I felt the extracts worked better in this book because he provided the context, and we also receive a commentary from him as well.

My one criticism of the book would concern his ruminations on his failure to enter into any form of office, not understanding why he was never able to climb to greasy pole, though he does provide an explanation for his failure. I also grew tired towards the end about how he kept banging on about how insignificant he was in the events he witnessed, and indeed he felt it had applied to his whole life. Had this been the case people would not have wanted to read the book: the fact that people have show that people respect him and enjoy his writing. He came across as a man seeking approval slightly too much.

That aside, it is a very interesting and enjoyable read. He has a real wit, and I found the book to be good fun, accurately observed and moving in all the right places.