A Very British Coup

by Chris Mullin

Published 1 September 1982
Former steel worker Harry Mullins, has, against all the odds, led the Labour Party to a stunning victory at the general election. His manifesto includes the removal of American bases, public control of finance, and the dismantling of the newspaper monopolies. The Establishment is appalled by the prospect, and secretly decides that something must be done. As M15 conspires with the city and the press barons, Perkins the PM finds himself in a no-holds-barred battle for survival..."A Very British Coup" is a clever blend of fact and fiction and links to the plots and schemes that were undoubtedly mounted against Harold Wilson's Labour government. Its success as a TV series focused attention on the activities of people who would rather not have been noticed. "The Times" described it 'as rattling along with great speed and credibility'; the "New Statesman" saw it as 'a world of power struggle in Downing Street, Fleet Street, Whitehall and Washington'; while the "Observer" called it 'a delicious fantasy.'