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Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors

50 Places That Changed British Politics

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Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors

By: Matt Chorley
Narrated by: Matt Chorley
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About this listen

’F *** ing brilliant. I would describe it as like a bag of political nuts – moreish and fabulously salty’ JOE LYCETT

A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors is an entertaining and original romp through the highs and lows of British political history and the unlikely locations that have decided our national fate.

Forget Westminster bust-ups and PMQs, some of the key events that have shaped modern British politics happened not in the cloisters of parliament or Downing Street’s many corridors of power, but in car parks, village halls and seaside resorts where the mundane have played host to the mighty. From Pitt the Younger’s Putney Heath duel to finding Margaret Thatcher a voice coach on a train, Harold Wilson’s ‘Scilly’ season holidays to John Major’s dental appointment clearing his path to No10 – these (and many more) are the places where chance meetings, untimely deaths and snap, sometimes daft, decisions changed the course of politics.

Matt Chorley has spent almost two decades covering Westminster, interviewing prime ministers, mocking ministers and chronicling the serious, and sometimes unintentionally absurd, events which act as unlikely turning points in the direction of a nation. Illustrated by award-winning political cartoonist Morten Morland, Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors combines Matt’s insider-knowledge, smart analysis and detailed research with his background in comedy to create an hilarious history of how politics actually happens.

©2023 Matt Chorley (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Comedy & Humour Great Britain Politics & Government Transportation Funny Witty Comedy Winston Churchill
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What listeners say about Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book for a casual politics nerd.

One of the more accessible politics books. It isn't just the place or object, but each has a well written story. It is a good mix of detail for the nerds but casual enough so that it keeps moving through it.

Narration by Chorley himself makes this like an extended podcast. He even does a few jokes which aren't terrible.

Well written, quite funny in places. Not bad for Matt Chorley.

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Great stories told with good humour

A very fun listen with a range of stories, some familiar some brand new

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Nugget After Nugget

A veritable flood of delicious stories which keep you mentally on your toes as you romp through some amazing political histories. Even those bits of stories you think you know are spectacularly brought to life.

It’s “the way he tells ‘em” as one Irish comedian always used to say. But MC has found some of the most interesting nuggets to dust down and polish up….so that, Boy, do they shine!

Moreover, although this has the hallmark of a series of discrete little tales that you can pick off one by one, or indeed in any random order, once you’ve started it is so difficult to put down. And at the end I was almost on my feet shouting for an encore!

It’s political history. It should be noting stuff. But this is gold.

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Witty and interesting

absolutely loved this, witty and well written. Very interesting too, a few events I hadn't heard of before. Some bits are laugh out loud, which got me odd looks on my bus commutes, which was when I was listening to this. very well read by author too.

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Loved it!

Great listen, fascinating anecdotes aplenty and also placed firmly in the historical narrative.
Highly recommend!

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Extremely entertaining but equally interesting and well researched

Superb book. The individual stories are entertainingly written very well researched and a must read for any self respecting political anorak!!!

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