What Does Jeremy Think: Jeremy Heywood and the Making of Modern Britain

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The Sunday Times Bestseller

Seasoned Whitehall watchers often remark: It wouldnt have been like this if Jeremy Heywood were still around. How could it be that the effectiveness of the once-revered civil service had become reliant on a single man Guardian
This book should be read in a similar spirit to Mantels masterpieces as a portrait of an exceptional man who was always at the centre of events Invaluable Guardian

As a young civil servant, Jeremy Heywoods insightful questioning of the status quo pushed him to the centre of political power in this country for more than 25 years.

He directly served four Prime Ministers in various roles including as the first and only Permanent Secretary of 10 Downing Street, the Cabinet Secretary and the Head of the Home Civil Service. He was at the centre of every crisis from the early 1990s until 2018 and most of the key meetings. Invariably, when faced with a new policy initiative a Prime Ministers first response would be: but what does Jeremy think

Jeremy worked up until his death, retiring just a few days before he died from lung cancer in October 2018. This book began as a joint effort between Jeremy and his wife Suzanne working together in the last months of his life. Suzanne completed the work after his death.

In a time of political uncertainty, this extraordinary book offers an unforgettable and unprecedented insight into political decision-making, crisis management and the extraordinary role of the civil service. It is also a moving celebration of Heywoods life in the beating heart of UK politics, and a man who for so long was the most powerful non-famous name in Britain.

(Sunday Times Bestseller, February 2021)

Reviews

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER (February 2021)

I just couldnt put it down. A fabulous book
Iain Dale, LBC

This book should be read in a similar spirit to Mantels masterpieces as a portrait of an exceptional man who was always at the centre of events It will be invaluable as a source for scholars and historians both as to how, when, why and by whom certain decisions were taken, and to what the decision-making process within government looks like up close Guardian

This is an astonishing book She captures a remarkable sweep of recent UK political history and the central part that her late husband a brilliant product and architect of the UK civil service and arguably the most influential cabinet secretary of modern times played in making it work better
Financial Times

An intimate personal memoir that is in places very moving and a fascinating political history that is at times revelatory The book brilliantly captures the way in which the personal and political are inextricably entwined
The Times

A superbly detailed account of how the internal organs of British power function It is as fair-minded as the man at its centre An invaluable contribution to the historical recordAmid the relentless politics, there is a very touching story here of the highs and lows of balancing careers, a relationship and domestic life. The basic humanity that shines through from both author and her husband, is perhaps the books most important and enduring tribute
TLS

A fitting tribute to an important public servant and a valuable insider account for political junkies She has succeeded hands down in justifying her belief that her husband was a worthy subject
Sunday Times

Author Bio

Suzanne Heywood was born in the UK but for most of her childhood sailed around the world with her family, with limited access to formal education. She came back to the UK aged 17 and won a place to study at Oxford University. After her PhD at Cambridge University, she joined McKinsey and Company where she became a senior partner. She is now a managing director of Exor and chair of CNH Industrial. She married Jeremy in 1997 and they have three children.