Thinking of the prime ministers we never had is a wonderful game. However, journalist Steve Richards closely examines some of those figures and explores why they never made it into Number 10.

Richards’s writing is no counterfactual exercise. His analysis of figures from Butler to Corbyn is hugely readable and doesn’t qualify as dry academia.  

The territory of almost-PMs is historically endless; Richards selects a strong cast of figures. He also highlights the male dominance of politics, with Barbara Castle the only female in contention as a prime minister we never had.  

Richards is a natural storyteller with an eagle-eye. I look forward to the revised edition including Rishi Sunak.