Table of Contents

1. Introduction.- 2. What is known about losing political office?.- 3. The research.- 4. Current politicians: views of political careers and motivations.- 5. Former politicians.- 6. Standing down from office.- 7. Defeated in office.- 8. After office: the longer term experience.- 9. Politicians’ partners and their families.- 10. Key themes in the losing of office.- 11. What may help or hinder transition from office?.- 12. Why losing political office matters to us all.- 13. Last thoughts.- References.

Promotional Information

"Losing office can be a traumatic experience. Some struggle to come to terms with it, others find new outlets. This book offers insights from the lived experience of a necessarily brutal aspect of democratic politics." (Prof Paul Burstow PC FRSA, UK) "A thoughtful, sensitive - and long overdue - exploration of what it really feels like to leave political office and why it matters. Letting go of a cherished role and a deeply valued purpose that have been fundamental to one's sense of identity is a transition of enormous significance - and here it is laid bare." (aroness Tessa Jowell, DBE, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood 1992-2015, UK) "Elected politicians get little public sympathy when they lose office or their seats. But the adjustment can be very difficult. Jane Roberts identifies a genuine problem in a sympathetic and perceptive way and offers responses which should not only help those who have lost office but also encourage those taking the risk of standing in the first place." /Peter Riddell, Director, Institute for Government and former chair of the Hansard Society, UK) "Understanding more about the dynamics of losing political office tells us important things about how democracy works or falters. Politicians like us are people and their reactions to losing are varied but very human. Politics is a business the needs to be designed around the realities of flawed human nature and this book provides new insights into the democratic process." (Professor Gerry Stoker, University of Southampton, UK)

About the Author

Dame Jane Roberts is Visiting Fellow at The Open University Business School, UK, and a member of the Leadership Research Discussion Group at The Open University Business School. A medical doctor, she continues to practise as an NHS Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and she has experience of healthcare management. She was Leader of the London Borough of Camden from 2000 to 2005. She chaired the Councillors Commission for the Department of Communities and Local Government (2007 to 2009) and amongst other roles, she chairs the think tank New Local Government Network. She also was joint editor of The Politics of Attachment (with S. Kraemer).