Description

REVISED AND UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE EXPLOSIVE EVENTS OF 2021 and 2022

Winner at the Parliamentary Book Awards
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year
Longlisted for the Orwell Prize
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Daily Telegraph’s Best Books of the Year
Guardian’s Best Books of the Year
Evening Standard’s Best Books of the Year
Daily Mail’s Best Books of the Year
BBC’s Biggest Books
Prospect’s Best Books of the Year

Politicians are consistently voted the least trusted professional group by the UK public. They’ve recently become embroiled in scandals relating to everything from expenses to sexual harassment to illicit parties. Every year, they introduce new legislation that doesn’t do what it sets out to achieve – often with terrible financial and human costs. But, with some notable exceptions, they are decent, hard-working people, doing a hugely difficult and demanding job.

In this searching examination of our political class, award-winning journalist Isabel Hardman tries to square this circle. She lifts the lid on the strange world of Westminster and asks why we end up with representatives with whom we are so unhappy. Filled with forensic analysis and revealing reportage, this landmark and accessible book is a must read for anyone who wants to see a future with better government.

Publisher Review

A really good book... Well-structured and well-written. * Observer * Hardman's well-written, incisive book provides a good compass with which to navigate this changing landscape * The Times * It's easy to moan that Westminster doesn't work and a lot harder to explain why. To understand, this is the book you need to read. * Laura Kuenssberg - Political Editor, BBC News * An entertaining read that addresses hard questions... invaluable for those who think they know what's wrong with Westminster but have no idea how to put it right. * John Humphrys - Presenter, Today Programme * Hardman's diagnosis of the malaise in the body politic is compelling and entertaining * Robert Peston - Political Editor, ITV News * A vital and compelling read for anyone interested in the way our politics does or doesn't work -- Jess Phillips * New Statesman * A fast-paced, intelligent dissection of modern politics, packed full of juicy anecdotes and insider knowledge. What Isabel Hardman doesn't know about parliament isn't worth knowing. * Helen Lewis - Deputy Editor, New Statesman * A must-read for anyone who wants to change the way they think about politicians and how they vote. * Evening Standard * As someone who has spent years writing about Westminster, Hardman knows better than most what is going wrong there... A must-read for anyone who wants a better Parliament. Crammed with insight and gossip, it will hopefully provoke the Westminster bubble to clean itself up. -- Asa Bennet * Daily Telegraph * Excellent... Hardman has carefully explained how to breathe new life into the existing system. -- Alex Dean * Prospect * The untold, candid account of our MPs. Isabel Hardman has been able to pierce our protective armour because we trust and respect her. And she's analysed what she found with a fierce intellect. * Harriet Harman MP * This thoroughly readable and well-researched book explains why parliamentary powers won't ever be used properly until parties change how they choose their candidates. -- Lord Peter Mandelson With humour and humanity, Isabel Hardman lifts the lid on the Houses of Parliament and shows with compelling authority how the structure and culture of our political system so often delivers the worst kind of results. This book has the power to fundamentally change how we do things in this country. * Emily Maitlis - Presenter, Newsnight * This highly readable book serves as a reminder that the principal purpose of an MP is to be a legislator, yet poorly thought through laws are often passed. -- Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset Riveting... Here's hoping lots of MPs get it in their Christmas stocking. * Daily Telegraph * Both original and practical, a press gallery eye view on why so many good people either don't make it into parliament or don't manage to achieve what they thought they would once there. Hardman writes well * Guardian, Best Books of 2018 * A brilliantly lucid explanation of the systemic problems in our electoral system that make policy-making and government such a mess. -- Nick Curtis * Evening Standard * A title no one could disagree with. Political journalist Hardman analyses why we end up with representatives we think are useless and suggests how we might do things differently. * Daily Mail * Eye-opening. * Sunday Telegraph * Excellent. * Independent * Extremely well-written. * Sorted *