Tradition of Cabinet giving books to No10 to be revived

IT IS a British political tradition dating back to the 1930s which was dropped by Tony Blair’s modernising New Labour government.

Now Boris Johnson is preparing to revive the convention of everyone who has served in the Cabinet donating a book to the Prime Minister’s Library in 10 Downing Street.

Before he leaves No 10, Mr Johnson will write to Cabinet ministers with a request to donate a book of their choice, complete with their signed name and office on the inside cover.

The works will then be added to the collection, which stretches from two glass-fronted bookcases in the Cabinet Room to rooms throughout 10 Downing Street.

The library – and the tradition of Cabinet donations – was started by Ramsay MacDonald in 1931.

In an interview at the time, the first Labour prime minister said the idea was motivated by the fact that there is “nothing more wearing than for a Prime Minister never to be able to get away from the everlasting atmosphere of minutes, dispatches, committees, conferences, and interviews”.

He added: “If he is fortunate to have half an hour’s leisure time there is nothing homely in 10 Downing Street.”

The letter inviting the first donations included a list of works that would be “appropriate” – along with a suggestion that “political biography, politics [and] history” should be strongly represented” – although it was stressed this was not a catalogue of requirements.

MacDonald also had in mind that if ministers had written their own books, they might donate them.

True to that wish, for his own choice, Mr Johnson will be offering his 2014 biography of Winston Churchill, The Churchill Factor.