A study of prime ministerial leadership in Britain and Australia. Tony Blair and John Howard were election winning leaders in two similar countries. They succeeded in dominating politics for over 10 years, but both fell dramatically from office. This book asks how these prime ministers established such predominant positions.

PART I Introduction: Comparing Prime Ministers PART II Cabinet as a Resource Prime Minster and Party Controlling and Strengthening the Centre PART III Prime Ministers: Personal Capacity Splendid Isolation: Personalisation and Autonomy PART IV Comparative Perspectives and Conclusions Notes References