Iain Dale

**SHORTLISTED for the PARLIAMENTARY BOOK AWARDS** A Times Political Book of the Year 'An entertaining, thorough and informative canter through the characters and stories of prime ministers past.' - New Statesman 'A wealth of enjoyable insights into three centuries of Westminster politics... It is a most elegant hardback volume, with a gilded cover that looks a little like the famous front door of No. 10 itself; the ideal Christmas gift.' - Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman 'This is a timely study of UK Prime Ministers and Iain Dale has done the subject a great service with this measured and thoughtful labour of love which offers a fascinating set of insights into the history of Britain, politics, the role of Prime Minister, and elite and establishment power... a superb guide to the times we have lived through and are living in.' - Gerry Hassan, Scottish Review *** 'Many of my predecessors were giants, some had feet of clay, all possessed human foibles.' - From the foreword by Boris Johnson It has almost been 300 years since Sir Robert Walpole arguably became the first holder of the office of Prime Minister in 1721 - an office which today is under scrutiny like never before. The Prime Ministers, edited by leading political commentator Iain Dale, brings to life all 55 of Britain's 'First Among Equals' with an essay for each office holder, written by key figures in British politics. From the obscure 18th-century figures like the Earl of Shelburne to 20th-century titans like Churchill and Thatcher, this book provides a much-needed reminder about their motivations, failures and achievements.

55 Leaders, 55 Authors, 300 Years of History

The Prime Ministers

Boris Johnson

A collection of the greatest quotes from the inimitable politician.

The Bigger Book of Boris

Jacqui Smith

Biteback Publishing is delighted to announce a major new project, a two volume series of biographies of every female MP ever to be elected to the House of Commons. Containing profiles of all 287 woman MPs from 1997 to 2019, and with female contributors from Mary Beard to Caroline Lucas, Ruth Davidson to Yvette Cooper and Margaret Beckett to Ann Widdecombe, The Honourable Ladies: Volume II is an indispensable and illuminating testament to the stories and achievements of these remarkable women.

Profiles of Women MPs 1997-2019

The Honourable Ladies

- Articles by thirty leading bloggers and commentators - Profiles of more than fifty leading blogs - A directory of 1,200 political blogs - The best 500 political blogs in the UK - The best 100 Conservative, Labour and LibDem blogs

Iain Dale's Guide to Political Blogging in the UK

Biteback Publishing is delighted to announce a major new project, a two volume series of biographies of every female MP ever to be elected to the House of Commons. When Constance Markievicz stood for election as MP for Dublin St Patrick’s in 1918, few people believed she could win the seat – yet she did. A breakthrough in the bitter struggle for female enfranchisement had come earlier that year, followed by a second landmark piece of legislation allowing women to be elected to Parliament – and Markievicz duly became the first woman MP. A member of Sinn Féin, she refused to take her seat. She did, however, pave the way for future generations, and only eleven months later, Nancy Astor entered the Commons. A century on from that historic event, 491 women have now passed through the hallowed doors of Parliament. Each one of these pioneers has fought tenaciously to introduce enduring reform, and in doing so has helped revolutionise Britain’s political landscape, ensuring that women’s contributions are not consigned to the history books. Containing profiles of all 287 woman MPs from 1997 to 2019, and with female contributors from Mary Beard to Caroline Lucas, Ruth Davidson to Yvette Cooper and Margaret Beckett to Ann Widdecombe, The Honourable Ladies: Volume II is an indispensable and illuminating testament to the stories and achievements of these remarkable women.

Volume II: Profiles of Women MPs 1997–2019

Guido Fawkes

The Big Red Book of New Labour Sleaze

The 2015 general election is almost upon us, but the question on everyone's mind is also the one that no one seems to be able to answer: What's the result going to be? While political commentators all nervously agree it will be 'one to remember', the truth is that this is the most unpredictable election in recent memory. For the first time in British political history we are now in five-party politics, national swingometers are a thing of the past and opinion polls have been rendered almost irrelevant. Despite the challenges involved, however, political pundit Iain Dale has used recent polling, statistics and his famously sharp instinct to predict the result in each and every one of the UK's 650 constituencies. And if his predictions are anywhere near correct, Britain is on the verge of months, perhaps years of political uncertainty and upheaval. But will he be proven right? Only time will tell...

The Political Anorak's Guide to Potential Gains and Losses in the 2015 General Election

Seat by Seat

Jakub Szweda

Boris Johnson, the UK's new Prime Minister, has ruled out holding an early general election. But, as we’ve seen, anything can happen in today’s politics. There are few politicians who could genuinely be described as a phenomenon. Boris Johnson is undoubtedly one. With a shake of that foppish blond mop, a glimmer of his madcap smile and the voice of a demented public school boy, Boris provides comedy gold every time he opens his erudite mouth. The allure of this blundering rapscallion to many on the Tory benches and to the membership of the Conservative Party at large is all too obvious. He says what few others will say in public and, indeed, he will do so on the record – appearing to care little what people think of him or his views. This book is big on fun, comedy, life and spirit. Containing a selection of the very finest Boris-isms and illustrated by specially commissioned cartoons, The Big Book of Boris is a highly amusing read, straight from the gaffe-strewn mouth of Britain’s most colourful politician.

The Big Book of Boris

A collection of political notables - the weird and wonderful alongside the famous and infamous - have returned from beyond the grave to haunt the pages of The Politico's Book of the Dead. Harold Wilson, John Smith, Willie Whitelaw and Lord David Sutch are here, along with the even more fabled political giants Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby (their obituaries provided by the creators of Yes, Minister) and Labour Prime Minister Harry Perkins (by the man who knew him best, Chris Mullin, author of A Very British Coup). Those judged more critically by history include Oswald Mosley, Horatio Bottomley and John Stonehouse. But the less fabled also qualify, among them Sir Frederic Bennett, who believed that CND was a front for the KGB; Philip Piratin, the Communist MP for Mile End elected in 1945; Gordon Reece, who persuaded Margaret Thatcher to speak more softly; and Norah Runge, who sensationally took Rotherhithe for the Tories in 1931.

The Politico's Book of the Dead

Duncan Brack

"She woke with a start. Could it really have happened, or was it just a cruel dream? One way to find out. She reached for the remote control ... ‘You’re watching GB News, the fair and balanced way to start your day,’ intoned the voice of Andrew Neil, overlaid on a remix of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. And then it hit her, as she took in the newsreader’s first headline. ‘The new Prime Minister, Priti Patel, is about to announce her first Cabinet appointments...’ The new Prime Minister... So it was real." What does it take to change history? Clement Attlee dying on the battlefield, perhaps? John Lennon surviving that bullet, or Theresa May finally (finally!) passing her Brexit deal? Or maybe the pivotal recent years of UK history turned on one man’s decision to have just one more drink... This is the world of political counterfactuals. Here, twenty-three fictional accounts, written by experts in their fields, tell the tales of what might have been – and what might still come to pass. Captivating and illuminating, these stories are guaranteed to make you smile – or gasp in horror.

And other things that never happened

Prime Minister Priti

There was a huge upsurge of global interest in US politics during the Trump presidency, culminating in the November 2020 election, the victory of the Democrat candidate Joe Biden and the subsequent, horrifying response in the storming of the US capitol. American politics is likely to remain deeply divided during the coming years, and also the focus of global attention - with Trump mobilising his base for 2024. But the transatlantic fascination with the role and office of the US President isn't new at all, and in fact reaches all the way back to the birth of the United States itself. The Presidents features essays, written by a range of academics, historians, political journalists and serving politicians, on all 46 American Presidents who have held the office over the last 230 years - from George Washington to Joe Biden. Each contributor has been carefully chosen based on expert knowledge of their subjects and personal connections, providing analysis of their subject's successes, failures and influence. Any hagiographical writing is shunned in favour of a 'warts and all' perspective on each President and the impact they've had on US politics - past, present and future.

The Presidents

This collection of 20 political counterfactuals imagines what would have happened if Michael Portillo had kept his seat in 1997; Margaret Thatcher had resigned over the Westland affair; and if Lee Harvey Oswald had missed?

And Other Things that Never Happened

Prime Minister Portillo--

Margaret Thatcher enthrals whenever she speaks. Her political career has spanned five decades and her influence on world politics is undeniable. From followers she inspires devotion; from detractors she induces unprecedented venom - but they listen all the same. Margaret Thatcher is the most quoted British political leader since Winston Churchill and in this unique collection Iain Dale and Grant Tucker have picked out her most memorable remarks. Never far from emitting a scathing rebuke she possesses a facility for the spoken word rivalled by few others. Some quotes are funny, many are inspirational, most are thoughtful - but they are all unforgettable. Alongside Margaret Thatcher's own words, the book contains many quotes from her political allies and opponents, as well as from foreign leaders who were often on the end of a good handbagging. On her resignation some said we would never see her like again. So far they have been proved right. With a talent for the perfect response, Maggie's whiplash tongue has ensured that her magnetism endures.

The Margaret Thatcher Book of Quotations

Tony Blair

Dale goes behind the smile to reveal the character and political beliefs of 'Phoney Tony' - former lead singer of the Ugly Rumours, husband of hot shot barrister Cherie Booth, and the youngest British Prime Minister this century

The Tony Blair Book of Quotations

The Blair Necessities

All governments, whatever their political colours, fall victim to the satirists and comedians. In a democracy it is only right and proper that they should. Just as Margaret Thatcher and John Major were ridiculed and lampooned before them, now it is the turn of Blair, Prescott, Cook and Brown.

Tony Blair New New Labour Joke Book

John Simmons

Following in the footsteps of their bestselling Ultimate Bill Clinton Joke Book, the authors turn their attention to New Labour: -- Tony Blair is a real politician... he's willing to do anything for the working class. Except join them. -- If Tony Blair is so keen on reducing air pollution, why doesn't he stop making speeches. -- Did you hear the adding two more faces to Mount Rushmore? Tony Blair's. Packed with jokes that would make even Vice President Gore smile, there's just one problem. The dangerous thing about New Labour kokes is that sometimes they get elected!

The Tony Blair New Labour Joke Book

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along is part-memoir, part-polemic about the state of public discourse in Britain and the world today.

Iain Dale

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