Description
Book SynopsisOn 20 June 1998 Peter Temple-Morris, Conservative MP for Leominster, crossed the floor to join his rivals on the Labour party benches. What drove a seasoned Conservative politician - one of the so-called 'Cambridge Mafia', with 24 years' experience as a Conservative MP - to change his allegiance so radically? In this memoir of a long and varied political career, Temple-Morris answers this question, unveiling the slow, gradual process of disillusionment with the Conservative party, especially under Margaret Thatcher, and the growing appeal of the New Labour movement under Tony Blair. As well as providing an important overview of British domestic politics in the second half of the twentieth century, Temple-Morris also explains his crucial role in Irish politics, especially in the peace process talks which led to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
Trade Review'A frank and very personal account of a political defection. A fascinating procession of politicians move across the pages. Overseas there is a particularly strong account of Iran under and after the Shah. A very good read - just a pity we Tories let him get away.' - Norman (Lord) Fowler : 'Across the Floor is the well-written memoir of a committed one nation politician who has been both a Tory and then a Labour MP and Peer. His fascinating account of his defection from Conservative to Labour is required reading for anyone thinking of crossing the floor. A convinced internationalist he paints colourful pen portraits of key figures in the Irish Peace process, gives a dramatic personal account of the Iranian Revolution, and describes how he hosted Gorbachev's crucial visit to Britain in 1984. I highly recommend this book.' - Giles (Lord) Radice : 'Peter Temple-Morris has produced a brilliant political memoir, which is insightful, informative and eminently readable. Peter's career is significant not just in British politics, but also in Ireland. He was a key player in the work to deliver a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. This book gives a gripping account of the huge effort of democratic politicians of every persuasion in Ireland and Britain to consign the violence that inflicted so much misery on Northern Ireland to the dustbin of history. Peter was an insider in the Irish peace process and he played an honourable and brave role in ensuring the triumph of constitutional politics over violence. Anyone with an interest in the work of reconciliation, peace-building and conflict resolution should read this book.' - Bertie Ahern, Irish Prime Minister 1997-2008. : 'A candid, thoughtful reflection of his own personal journey set against a backdrop of major world events and players. His principled and brave decision to join Labour, his tireless commitment to achieving peace for the people of Northern Ireland, and his genuinely internationalist outlook make this is a thoroughly engaging and absorbing memoir.' - Tony Blair, British Prime Minister 1997-2007
Table of ContentsINTRODUCTIONPREFACEPART ONE: THE BEGINNINGCHAPTER ONE: THE CAMBRIDGE MAFIACHAPTER TWO: INTO POLITICSPART ONE: THE PARTY WE JOINEDPART TWO: THE LIFE WE LEDCHAPTER THREE: THE BARPART TWO: A POLITICAL LIFECHAPTER FOUR: LADY THATCHERPART ONE: PERSONAL EXPERIENCESPART TWO: THE FALL OF THE IRON LADYCHAPTER FIVE: LABOUR CONNECTIONS, SOUTH WALES AND BEYONDCHAPTER SIX: PARTY COMPARISONSPART THREE: AN INTERNATIONAL LIFECHAPTER SEVEN: REVOLUTION IN IRANPART ONE: HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLENPART TWO: REVOLUTION IS AWFULCHAPTER EIGHT: RUSSIA AND THE SOVIET UNIONPART ONE: MIKHAIL SERGEYEVITCH GORBACHEVPART TWO: THE OLD AND THE NEWCHAPTER NINE: PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY AND THE FOREIGN OFFICEPART FOUR: IRELANDCHAPTER TEN: THE PEACE PROCESS AND THE PARLIAMENTARY ROLECHAPTER ELEVEN: POLITICAL DIFFICULTIESCHAPTER TWELVE: TONY BLAIR AND THE BELFAST AGREEMENTPART FIVE: THE ANATOMY OF A DEFECTIONCHAPTER THIRTEEN: EVENTS AND DISILLUSIONCHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE BEST LAID PLANSCHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE WHIPCHAPTER SIXTEEN: LIFE AS AN INDEPENDENTCHAPTER SEVENTEEN: 1998 AND THE FINAL PUSHPART SIX: REFLECTIONSCHAPTER EIGHTEEN: WHY DID I DEFECT? CHAPTER NINETEEN: THE AFTERMATH, SEVENTEEN YEARS LATERAPPENDIX ONE: CAMBRIDGE PROFILES
