Close to Power: A Westminster Life: by Peter Hill (1958)

For over three decades, Peter Hill reported from the corridors of power, witnessing the drama, tension, and humour that shaped modern Britain. Close to Power is his captivating memoir of a life spent covering Prime Ministers from Harold Wilson to Margaret Thatcher, surviving long election nights reporting Parliamentary debatesby storm lantern, and dodging CS gas in the Commons.

With warmth and wit, Hill reflects on the changing face of political journalism – from the dominance of Fleet Street to the digital age. Along the way, he meets the principled and the pompous, the brave and the bizarre. Peter describes his journey from Scunthorpe to Westminster, his disasters as well as his triumphs, and his varied career as a freelance.

But this is not just a journalist’s story – it’s a vivid portrait of Westminster itself: the people, the politics, and the press that hold it to account. Honest, insightful, and often hilarious, Close to Power is a must-read for anyone curious about how politics really works.