Based on in-depth interviews conducted with British politicians, this book analyses the different impacts of leaving political office. Representative democracy depends on politicians exiting office, and yet while there is considerable interest in who stands for and gains office, there is curiously little discussed about this process. Jane Roberts seeks to address this gap by asking: What is the experience like? What happens to politicians as they make the transition from office? What is the impact on their partners and family? Does it matter to anyone other than those immediately affected? Are there any wider implications for our democratic system? This book will appeal to academics in the fields of leadership, political science, public management and administration and psychology. It will also be of interest to elected politicians in central, devolved and local government (current and former), policy makers and political commentators, and more widely, the interested general reader.

Dame Jane Roberts is Visiting Fellow at The Open University Business School, UK, and a member of the Leadership Research Discussion Group at The Open University Business School. A medical doctor, she continues to practise as an NHS Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and she has experience of healthcare management. She was Leader of the London Borough of Camden from 2000 to 2005. She chaired the Councillors Commission for the Department of Communities and Local Government (2007 to 2009) and amongst other roles, she chairs the think tank New Local Government Network. She also was joint editor ofThe Politics of Attachment (with S. Kraemer).

1. Introduction.- 2. What is known about losing political office?.- 3. The research.- 4. Current politicians: views of political careers and motivations.- 5. Former politicians.- 6. Standing down from office.- 7. Defeated in office.- 8. After office: the longer term experience.- 9. Politicians partners and their families.- 10. Key themes in the losing of office.- 11. What may help or hinder transition from office?.- 12. Why losing political office matters to us all.- 13. Last thoughts.- References.