Peter Oborne's acclaimed The Triumph of the Political Class was voted by readers of ConservativeHome as their best book for 2007/08.
Building on The Rise of Political Lying, it is a devastating critique of the British political establishment as an isolated and self-interested elite that has little real experience outside of politics and is more interested in political branding and tactics than policy substance or ideology.
You can order it online here. You can read an excerpt here.
The other two worthy books shortlisted for this award were Wasting Police Time by the blogger PC David Copperfield, and Scared To Death by Christopher Booker and Richard North.
* More than 8000 people voted on the 2008 ConservativeHome Movement Awards. The previous award announced was writer of the year, which went to Fraser Nelson.
Just started reading my copy, and its gripping stuff.
But the real prize will belong to the person who can tell us the solution to the problem identified.
Off the top of my head:
1) Fire all political researchers.
2) Fire the Spads.
3) Limit the amount of time anyone can be in representative public service to half of their working life.
Posted by: Man in a Shed | April 19, 2008 at 15:32
Man in a Shed @ 15.32
How about Fire all politicians and lawyers?
Posted by: mike clarke | April 19, 2008 at 15:59
The grubbing career-politician has to be stamped out of British politics. The parties can achieve this by making selection dependent on party loyalty, locality and getting rid of the discrimination that pole-vaults contenders on grounds of ethnicity, gender or fame. There is growing public contempt for the politician, in spite of this I believe the public still has respect for the genuine politician who is committed to public service. The contempt lies with the career-politician.
The art of politics needs to regain its credibility, that means getting rid of the compliant nonentities who currently clog up the backbenches. Mediocrity has become mainsteam in the house of commons, its time to bring excellence back, that means all parties introducing a proper and pure selection process.
Posted by: Tony Makara | April 20, 2008 at 00:30
Peter says that the Amazon ranking on this went from 33000 to just over 400 yesterday!
It's unsurprisingly rare for political insiders to write books criticising political insiders in general, so I'm glad people are buying it.
Posted by: Deputy Editor | April 20, 2008 at 10:01
I attended a fringe in Blackpool last year when Peter and T May spoke. Peter recognised that his book did politicians no favours as did May but her solution was that Peter should not have written the book and she completely failed to undersatnd that the change needed was for politicos of all persuasions to change their behaviour.
I'm delighted that the book has gained the recognition it deserves.
Posted by: John Broughton | April 20, 2008 at 20:29
Delighted that this book won.I think it was me who first nominated it. It is well written and is at its strongest when dealing with the divide that now exists between full time politicians and 'ordinary ' members of the public.
I hope DC has read this book and that he realises that candidates should not be chosen on the basis of ethnicity or gender but on what they've achieved in their lives.
Posted by: Malcolm Dunn | April 20, 2008 at 20:40
"she completely failed to undersatnd that the change needed was for politicos of all persuasions to change their behaviour."
Typical Teresa May.
A few years ago I was at Conference: Michael Howard's theme was Conservatives mean ACTION; Teresa May was spokesman for the family.
I attended an excellent and very persuasive presentation by Harry Benson.
May openly agreed that Benson's analysis that the breakdown of the family was a root cause of many problems was compelling, but refused point blank to consider doing anything about it.
Says it all really.
Posted by: Deborah | April 20, 2008 at 22:49
Man in a shed @15.32
..and how about fire a good number of cosy political journalists to sharpen the wits of those that remain?
An excellent book.
Posted by: Deborah | April 20, 2008 at 22:53
Where do I begin? I have rarely seen such smug, cosy, luvvy comments from people who do not have the slightest idea about what is really going on in this country and haven't a hope in hell of finding out. I despair. Kind Regards - Tristan de Vere Bon Bon. sigh. Lark's tongues in aspic sandwich anyone?
Posted by: Whoknows | May 09, 2008 at 22:11
I have read this book and can say that virtually politicians of every party are in it for one thing. Themselves.
It is truly shocking what our elected politicians get away with.
Posted by: KJC | September 12, 2008 at 20:36