- Published: 6 February 2014
- ISBN: 9781448138289
- Imprint: Vintage Digital
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 400
A Quiet Word
Lobbying, Crony Capitalism and Broken Politics in Britain
- Published: 6 February 2014
- ISBN: 9781448138289
- Imprint: Vintage Digital
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 400
Fascinating… [Cave and Rowell] lay bare the tricks of the trade, from "astroturfing" (whipping up what looks like grassroots protest against new regulatory threats, but is in fact a front for industry interests) to using thinktanks as "wonk whores" that can push helpful ideas
Gaby Hinsliff, Guardian
Indispensable
George Monbiot, Guardian
Demonstrates beyond doubt how lobbyists distort democracy and ensure that elite opinion crowds out public views
New Statesman
A chillingly accurate description of how presentation and spin trumps substantive argument in the upper echelons of power... A Quiet Word is important and, generally, right
Mark Leftly, Independent on Sunday
A timely account of how voters are conceding power to a silent industry
JP O'Malley, Mail on Sunday
Makes a very persuasive case for much more openness in lobbying
Douglas Osler, Scotland on Sunday
This book shines a bright light on the murky dealings surrounding politics, PR, big business and journalism... Revelatory and disturbing
Tim Holmes, Open Democracy
Fascinating… The discussion of the "commercial influence industry"…is thorough, illuminating and instructive… A very useful introduction to a complex subject
Anne Griktis, Public Service Magazine
Highly recommended
Roger Backhouse, Barkingside 21