Cheers, Mr Churchill!: Winston in Scotland

(Hardback)

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Description

In 1922 Winston Churchill prepared to defend his parliamentary seat of Dundee in the General Election. He had represented the city since 1908, enjoyed a majority of more than 15,000 and, after five previous victories, confidently described it as a life seat. But one man had other ideas, and Churchill was in for the fight of his life.

This is the story of how god-fearing teetotaller Edwin Scrymgeour fought and won an election against Britains most famous politician. It begins with their first electoral contest in 1908 and follows their political sparring over the next 15 years until Scrymgeours eventual victory in 1922, when he became the only prohibitionist ever elected to the House of Commons.

As well as vividly bringing to life an extraordinary personal and political rivalry, the book also explores for the first time Churchills controversial relationship with Scotland, including his attitude to devolution.

'Well-researched, well-written and genuinely groundbreaking forces us to look anew at Winston Churchills

relationship with Scotland' Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny

'A triumph of a book fascinating' Brian Taylor, The Herald

'A fine piece of revisionist historical writing' David Torrance, historian and biographer

Reviews

'Well-researched, well-written and genuinely groundbreaking forces us to look anew at Winston Churchills relationship with Scotland'

-- Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny

'In a carefully researched and lively account, Andrew Liddle finally sets the record straight on Winston Churchill's attitude to Scotland'

* The House Magazine *

'A triumph ... demolishes myths about Churchill while examining a mistakenly neglected period of his political career'

-- Brian Taylor, former Political Editor, BBC Scotland

'A fine piece of revisionist historical writing which restores Churchill's place in Scotland's story'

-- David Torrance, historian and biographer

'Genuinely new and useful ... fills [the] gap in the historical record admirably and with no small measure of panache too'

-- Alex Massie, Scotland editor * The Spectator *

'Cheers Mr Churchill is a triumph of fact over the ubiquitous myths about Winston Churchill's hatred towards Scotland.'

-- Alastair Stewart

'A brilliant new book by Andrew Liddle'

-- Andrew Adonis * Prospect Magazine *

'a rich and well-written history of stirring times, as well as a vital insight into the early career of a politician who...was not always the dogged old reactionary of modern political legend'

-- Joyce McMillan * The Scotsman *

'A fascinating story'

* Times Radio *

'Liddle's diligent research helps shine a welcome light on this romanticised and maligned figure's Scottish years'

-- Megan Amato * Scottish Field *

'A rare treat to find something new in the ocean of Churchill scholarship, and Liddle pulls together a refreshing new take on Scotland to make for an entirely fresh viewpoint'

-- Alastair Stewart * Finest Hour *

'Until now, this phase of Churchills life had gone virtually undocumented in book form. Liddle plugs that gap with a captivating chronicle of an iconic, complex man during one of the most important, transitional phases of his political life'

-- Alastair Mabbot * The Herald *

'A masterclass in myth-busting, balance and page-turning readability'

-- Steven Veerapen * Aspects of History *

'Andrew Liddle's new book Cheers Mr Churchill! is not a revisionist take on Scotland, but a presentation of facts left in the historical ether about Scotland'

-- Alastair Stewart * Scotland on Sunday *

Author Bio

Andrew Liddle is a writer and political consultant based in Edinburgh. He was previously Political Correspondent for The Press and Journal and Chief Reporter for The Courier. His first book, Ruth Davidson and the Resurgence of the Scottish Tories, was published by Biteback in 2018.