One hundred years ago, Winston Churchill prepared to defend his parliamentary seat of Dundee in the 1922 General Election. He had represented the industrial town since 1908, enjoyed a majority of more than 15,000 votes and confidently described it as ‘a life seat’. The cabinet minister had fought and won five previous elections in the city, and confidently expected to win a sixth — but one man had other ideas. Churchill was in for the fight of his life.
Cheers, Mr Churchill tells the incredible true story of how the god-fearing teetotaller Edwin Scrymgeour fought and won an election against Britain’s most famous politician. The story begins with their first electoral contest in 1908 and follows their political rivalry over the next five elections until Scrymgeour’s eventual victory in 1922.
Using first-hand accounts and an array of fascinating characters, Andrew Liddle vividly brings to life an extraordinary personal and political rivalry — and tells the story of a rare defeat for Britain’s greatest fighter.
