Wine, Women and Westminster: Behind the Scenes Stories of MPs at Play Over 50 Years

Chris Moncrieff has been covering events in Westminster for the Press Association since the days when Churchill still came into the Chamber, and as its political editor for 14 years he was often the man who broke the big stories. He certainly knows where most of the bodies are buried and his eye-opening account of the shenanigans and goings-on in the House of Commons and beyond is not only highly entertaining but often revealing. It also gives a fascinating insight into the ways the House has changed over the years and the strange manner in which MPs and journalists ply their trade. Moncrieff’s sharp-penned chronicle takes us on an hilarious helter-skelter journey that moves from the Press Bar and corridors of the House to party conferences, clandestine briefings and many colourful parts of the world, often in the train of one Prime Minister or another. Most memorable is his account of zipping around world behind ‘the hurricane in skirts’ – Margaret Thatcher – (‘jet lag, whatever’s that’?) whose penchant for blowing up mines was often as terrifying as the threats posed by various terrorist groups or the bombs of Belfast. It was in Africa that he had the joy of watching the redoubtable Denis trying to feed a bun to the wrong end of an elephant! As he encounters and retells some of the funniest and most fascinating performances of his all-star and often bizarre cast, outrageous anecdotes abound, making Wine Women and Westminster a laugh –out loud volume of unique, unmissable stories. Chris Moncrieff has worked in Parliament on behalf of the Press Association since 1962, and was its Political Editor from 1982-94. As such he found himself in many hot spots, tight scrapes, and sometimes awkward (not to say embarrassing) situations, but also became privy to many secrets and behind-the scenes-stories and encounters which he recalls here with gusto. Even now, in is so-called ‘retirement’, he continues to work for the PA as a highly valued political correspondent.