This work investigates the nature of the British Prime Minister's office by analyzing the informal networks and personal interactions that constitute the 'court' surrounding the leader. R.A.W. Rhodes, a prominent political scientist, utilizes ethnographic methods and interviews to examine how power is exercised within the constraints of the Westminster system. The book argues that the Prime Minister's influence is less about formal constitutional authority and more about the management of interpersonal relationships and advisory circles.

Political scientists frequently cite this text for its unique ethnographic approach to studying executive power in the United Kingdom. Scholars often note the density of the prose, which provides a detailed look at the internal dynamics of government that are rarely visible to the public.