First Among Equals: by Jeffrey Archer.

A look in political system of UK (sans royalty) via men who aspire to serve their country through working for people, with various major parties - Labour, Tory, and later on the Liberals - and the parliamentary system of the nation.

Other nations have adopted the system with one perhaps major difference - the shadow cabinet. It is a powerful tool to keep the ruling party on their tows with requirements of sharing papers and decisions, while the opposition is not free to topple the government and has in fact to assume responsibility of the nation as soon as such an event occurs.

Story of various men who rise from young aspirants to more powerful roles in their parties, their constituencies, with the family and private life of each playing a considerable role as do their personal styles and charisma. Very skillfully written and very enjoyable, as as many many of works of Archer.