This remarkable book tells the story of how the British economy has been managed over the last 30 years. The story is told by those who should know more about it than anyone else – the former Chancellors of the Exchequer in both Labour and Conservative administrations. The Chancellors' Tales offers a unique insider view of the management of a modern economy, charting the opportunities and constraints that each chancellor faced. The book provides a rare historical record of the difficulties and dilemmas of managing the British economy in an increasingly global age. Written with both deep insight and wit, the chapters follow the period in office of each of the chancellors. Each chapter offers a detailed account of the handling of the economy during that chancellors period of office. Taken together they provide a privileged insight into the way the British economy has been run and why.

The chapters are written by Lord Healey, Lord Howe, Lord Lawson of Blaby, Lord Lamont and Kenneth Clarke, MP. The book also contains an introduction by Sir Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics. He provides a context in which to understand the contributions of each of the chapters which follow.

The book will be of interest to specialists and non-specialists alike interested in understanding how government works and economies function.