Book
Bothering Westminster
A sharp political narrative that challenges institutions, power, and the stories nations tell themselves.
Book Summary
A letter from Rabbi Sarah Feldman draws Alistair and Margaret into Westminster's world when MP David Calder asks to talk after reading Bothering God. The novel moves from a synagogue celebration dinner into Parliament, constituency rooms, and the long machinery of public life.
As Alistair meets MPs, councillors, organisers, and citizens, the focus shifts from spectacle to practice: who listens, who carries the burden, and who quietly keeps institutions alive. Margaret's clarity repeatedly cuts through spin, forcing both Alistair and political insiders to confront what they are actually doing.
Six months later, Alistair writes a major speech for Westminster Hall, then decides not to deliver it because he refuses to turn understanding into performance. The book closes in Hartwell St. Mary at a parish council meeting about a leaking roof, where showing up matters more than grand statements.