Heads of Government Photographs by David Partner.We are used to seeing politicians flash across our television screens to the point we might recognise many in the street, but can we say we know what those who govern us are really like?. The question has been answered by photographer David Partner, whose astonishing Heads of Government exhibition, which captures over 100 members of the current Labour Government on film, achieves more than anything before in revealing the innermost character of people in power- warts and all. Partner, who has no political allegiance, undertook the project on a spur of the moment decision and battled for two years to achieve access to the inner sanctums of ministerial offices following a chance meeting with former Arts minister Kim Howells. I wanted to create a set of powerful portraits of the people in power. I decided not to photograph the opposition, as it is these issues of power that inspired the work. I have always had a huge interest in the British Institutions and I still find it astonishing how little, on the most part, we know about the people who make the decisions that affect our daily lives - even down to their identity. The Ministers were photographed during 2004 throughout its political storms; including an appointment to photograph Peter Hain, The Leader of the House of Commons, on the day after Fathers for Justice stormed the Commons with purple flour - unsurprisingly that appointment was cancelled. David Blunkett was photographed in the eye of the hurricane of allegations concerning events in his private life. He resigned a day after the picture was taken. David was set up to photograph Gordon Brown at the Treasury only to find he had been called to Number 10
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