The Prime Minister's Ironing Board and Other State Secrets: True Stories from the Government Archives Paperback – 25 Sept. 2014

I don’t know if the recipient has read the book yet, but he seemed happy with it. It arrived very promptly, which was good, as it was part of a birthday present.

Well researched and documented. It shows just how much time and effort governments put into situations which really ought to be rejected as not worth the effort to deal with. So much for thinking that cabinet meeting are full of meaningful thoughts about major matters when really it how much was drunk at Chequers over a weekend. Interesting information about the Falklands. Good read.

This book has some very strange and very funny stories in it.

Hoping for some hilarious secrets, I was very disappointed to find that most of the stories are boring, humdrum and with little interest. The book is OK for those times when your mood is just to spend ten minutes relaxing, with nothing too taxing or time-consuming; but if you sit down for a reading session, you want something that is not so repetitive. The chapters tend to follow a particular person or event, the author writing, for example, a succession of stories about the Duke of Edinburgh. But, again using that topic as an example, it just isn't possible to make the concerns Ministers had about Prince Philip's interest in flying aeroplanes very interesting. You read the story that they were concerned when he first wanted to learn to fly, and think "Oh, right"; then the next 'secret' is that they were concerned when he wanted to learn to fly helicopters - in other words, same story repeated - they were concerned. I would recommend buying this only if you have a good boredom tolerance, or if you need a book you can pick up for ten minutes then turn to something else.

I love to read about archived material and this book gave a fascinating insight into some of the correspondence of governments over the years. I hope that as more documents are released further volumes will follow.

Very funny book would recommend to anyone interested in politics and politicians laughed out loud at some of the stupid things said by supposedly intelligent people

Enjoyed this book. it was a bit of light relief at the end of a busy day. Some enlightening topics which were very interesting and goes to show what is the murky world of politics .

This was a present for somebody so I have not read it myself. I gave it a high rating because the recipient like it.

This is a delightful, light and funny look into the British government archives, released under the ’30 year rule. Not an obvious source of laughs, I grant you, but Adam MacQueen has found lots of wry humour in the papers of Prime Minister’s past. I enjoyed it immensely.After reading “The Prime Minister’s Ironing Board and other state secrets” you’ll have a favourite story to tell others. My personal choice is a young Robin Cook (later Foreign Secretary) who tabled a motion to create a UK intelligence service since MI5 and MI6 didn’t officially exist – Margaret Thatcher was furious!There’s also the exchange of letters about providing reading to the recently imprisoned Nelson Mandela back in 1962. MacQueen includes the list of books and Madiba’s polite thank you note.I mostly read this book while on a 14 hour flight and it was perfect travel/in-flight reading. There’s short sections for each story so you don’t have to concentrate for long. You can put down and resume later quite easily.Adam MacQueen previously compiled the 50th anniversary history of Private Eye and helped curate the delightful Private Eye exhibit at the Victoria and Albert.“The Prime Minister’s Ironing Board and other state secrets” will make an excellent gift for some of my friends and is a welcome alternative to the celebrity autobiographies infesting the shelves this Christmas.

Lovely insight into the British Civil Service and mentality. Witty and nostalgic at times, a very pleassant reading, as deep as you wish to make it.

A very humorous look behind the scenes at some of the inner workings of the British government over the years, showing what the powers that were considered to be secret for reasons that probably can never be explained. A great and enjoyable read!

I didn't finish it. Bored out of my mind. I thought the Brits had a good sense of humor. I think I thought wrong.