[I am pleased to announce that my friend and colleague, the esteemed British lawyer Anthony Julius, has agreed to author a short series of book reviews to be published exclusively on this blog. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Anthony and his work, and I am proud to be able to share some of his writings here. His first book review is of Peter Oborne’s “The Triumph of the Political Class” – Robert Amsterdam]

Review of Peter Oborne “The Triumph of the Political Class,” Simon & Schuster, 2007, £18.99

By Anthony Julius

The political commentator Peter Oborne believes he has spotted a shift for the worse in Britain’s political culture. A new political elite has emerged. This is the “Political Class,” as supported by the “Media class.” The Political Class is much like the old Soviet “nomeklatura.” It is a menacing phenomenon. It has rejected the values and practices of the governing class that ran Britain in the 19th century. This class embraced the concept of public duty. It rejected the greed and pursuit of self-interest that characterised 18th century British politics. It insisted upon a clear division between private interests and the public interest, and it championed integrity in political office. It turned the civil service into a professional, apolitical elite. It was committed to the concept of Ministerial responsibility. This governing class, whose members were guardians of the Victorian state, could not be bribed, suborned or influenced.