Based on in-depth interviews conducted with British politicians this book analyses the
different impacts of leaving political office. Representative democracy depends on politicians
exiting office and yet while there is considerable interest in who stands for and gains office
there is curiously little discussed about this process. Jane Roberts seeks to address this gap
by asking: What is the experience like? What happens to politicians as they make the transition
from office? What is the impact on their partners and family? Does it matter to anyone other
than those immediately affected? Are there any wider implications for our democratic system?
This book will appeal to academics in the fields of leadership political science public
management and administration and psychology. It will also be of interest to elected
politicians in central devolved and local government (current and former) policy makers and
political commentators and more widely the interested general reader.
