This book investigates the linguistic and psychological mechanisms that define political communication within the context of British televised interviews and party conferences. Peter Bull, a psychologist specializing in communication, utilizes empirical data from UK political discourse spanning 1983 to 2001 to analyze how politicians manage public perception. By examining specific verbal strategies, the author argues that political communication is a highly structured performance designed to navigate the constraints of media scrutiny and audience expectations.

Experts in political communication recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the micro-level mechanics of televised political discourse. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous framework for analyzing the interaction between politicians and interviewers.