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‘Wonderful, highly readable and impassioned’ Daron Acemoglu, author of WHY NATIONS FAIL

‘Required reading for anyone who cares about how democracy works – both as a warning and a call to action’ Bill Browder

Cash from anonymous donors. Cronyism in government contracts. Politicians who sell their influence to the highest bidder. Corruption is rife in British politics.

Britain is complacent about corruption. We are used to thinking of ourselves as firm defenders of fairness and the rule of law. But our institutions have never been more corrupt, from scandals in parliament and local government to crises in housing and the NHS. The evidence is impossible to ignore. Political leaders face a clear choice: tackle corruption or continue on the road to decline.

Robert Barrington is one of the world’s leading researchers on corruption. Corrupted Kingdom is his comprehensive examination of how corruption manifests in Britain, from politicians to prisons, the Monarchy and the Met. He assesses the origins of corruption, from Londongrad to the end of Empire, and shows how we can best reverse the decline and restore trust in politics and the democratic process.

Vital and authoritative, Corrupted Kingdom provides an essential insight into why the abuse of power harms us all – and how we can banish corruption for good.

Publisher Review

This wonderful, highly readable and impassioned book should act as a wake-up call for all of us — Daron Acemoglu, co-author of WHY NATIONS FAIL A clear and compelling analysis of corruption in Britain today. Required reading for anyone who cares about how democracy works – both as a warning and a call to action — Bill Browder, bestselling author of RED NOTICE The strength of Barrington’s book is that it is not angry or polemical. It is methodical and fair … His appeal for Britain to rebuild its anti-corruption defences is all the stronger for his steady accumulation and weighing of evidence * Literary Review * Nothing should delay readers from getting their hands on this book … Corrupted Kingdom makes a convincing case that corruption is behind the decay of British institutions public and private * Global Anti Corruption * Neither alarmist nor complacent, this is an authoritative exploration of the state of corruption in the UK – and how we can rebuild our defences against it. — Dan Neidle, tax lawyer and campaigner A chilling indictment of Britain’s corruption complicity and complacency — Lord Peter Hain, author of LIBERATION AND CORRUPTION A tour de force. With forensic skill and eye for the killer detail, Barrington dissects the rot at the heart of British public life – and what we can do to clean it up. A must read for anyone who cares about integrity in our politics — Peter Geoghegan, author of DEMOCRACY FOR SALE Powerful and empowering. Barrington joins the dots to show that corruption in the UK is much more embedded and pernicious than we like to think, while also revealing the strengths we might draw on to fight back. A superb accomplishment — Liz David-Barrett, author of POWER GRAB One of our leading experts in anti-corruption makes a case we can no longer ignore. Let Robert Barrington be your guide on a tour of scandals with a distinctly British aroma — Duncan Hames, Director of Policy at Transparency International An eye-opening and timely wake up call. Based on expert research, Barrington’s book punches through the complacency and naivety that has led far too many of us to assume – wrongly, it turns out – that Britain isn’t a corrupt country — Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary’s University London A thought-provoking and timely expose of corruption in the UK, and why it matters — David Lewis, former head of the Financial Action Taskforce In this thoughtful, thought-provoking and highly readable analysis, Robert Barrington carefully unpicks complacent assumptions that corruption is something that happens in other countries, but not the UK. Based on decades of frontline experience and detailed research, Barrington applies his critical eye to a host of sectors with sobering results. A must-read for all concerned with standards of governance in the UK — Paul Heywood, Emeritus Professor, University of Nottingham A compelling and highly readable account of how corruption pervades every aspect of life in the UK and how rarely there is any accountability for those who engage in it … An important and timely book that should be on the reading list of any politician — Susan Hawley, Executive Director, Spotlight on Corruption Corrupted Kingdom should be required reading. Britons like to kid themselves corruption happens overseas, the smug belief that the United Kingdom enjoys some kind of moral exceptionalism still hold sway. “Not so,” writes Barrington. In dispassionate, non-emotive language, he pulls the alarm cord, while explaining what can be done to avoid driving off the approaching cliff. His advice needs to be taken — Michela Wrong, author of DO NOT DISTURB If we are to regain our reputation for the rule of law, we need urgently to read this book and learn the lessons. Otherwise, as Barrington warns, we could face a “silent spring” of corruption in this country — Tom Shakespeare, campaigner Corrupted Kingdom demonstrates in sophisticated – and timely – fashion that in settings like the United Kingdom the real danger lies in the gradual capture of institutions intended to constrain power. An accessible and compelling narrative … Barrington has written one of the most thoughtful examinations of how established democracies can drift toward state capture without dramatic constitutional collapse, offering an original framework deserving wide attention from scholars and policymakers alike – and anyone concerned with democratic governance — Professor Daniel Kaufmann