The review compares Damian McBride to Paul Gascoigne, highlighting his aggressive and erratic behavior fueled by alcoholism. McBride's memoir reveals a culture of indulgence and mutual protection among politicians and journalists, with Brown's tolerance of McBride's actions remaining a mystery.
The review draws a parallel between Damian McBride and Paul Gascoigne, noting their similar appearances and struggles with alcoholism. McBride's memoir, 'Power Trip', details his aggressive and often unprofessional behavior, which was enabled by a culture of drinking and mutual protection among politicians and journalists. His actions, including feeding poison to the papers, had significant consequences, such as ending John Reid's political career. The review questions why Gordon Brown tolerated McBride's behavior, suggesting that Brown was running scared and relied on McBride's ability to control the media narrative. The book paints a picture of a political environment where discipline was often sacrificed for short-term gains.
Quick quotes
McBride didn’t just take it out on the opposition. He saw the football pitch as the perfect place to pursue personal vendettas and settle scores.
His story is full of hair-raising escapades and exhausting binges. He seems fuelled by a mix of aggression and anxiety.
The strong impression this book conveys is that Brown was forever running scared.