Blogs, Boris and Peter Oborne

1. New: Peter Oborne's 'The Triumph of the Political Class'
2. New: Iain Dale's 'Guide to Political Blogging in the UK 2007-2008'
3. New: 'Peter Thorneycroft' by Stanley Crooks
4. New: Mark Oaten on 'Coalition'
5. New: 'The Little Book of Boris'

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Note from the Editor
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Dear Politico's Customer

With the party conference season in full swing there's a wealth of new books coming through. This week we lead with Peter Oborne's brilliantly argued The Triumph of the Ruling Class which shows the chilling reality of how things now work in the mother of all parliaments. It is described as "one of the most important works of political analysis since Anthony Sampson's Anatomy of Britain".

Iain Dale has listed 1,200 political blogs active in the UK at present. But his new guide provides much more than a directory - it includes a listing of the 500 top blogs by category, insightful articles by 30 leading bloggers and commentators, profiles of over 50 leading blogs and much more.

Stanley Crooks' excellent life of Peter Thorneycroft has an Introduction by Lord Carrington and includes colour illustrations throughout', and Mark Oaten's timely 'Coalition' recalls the politics and personalities of coalition government from 1850 and poses the question as to whether or not coalition governments ever work?

And we round off with 'The Little Book of Boris', a hugely entertaining compilation of witticisms and comment (aka 'Boris-isms') from the great man, accompanied by a fact-file, a bibliography and more

Best wishes,

editor@politicos.co.uk

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1. New: Peter Oborne's The Triumph of the Political Class
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Both an extension of and a companion to his acclaimed expose of political mendacity, 'The Rise of Political Lying', Peter Oborne's new book reveals in devastating fashion just how far we have left behind us the idea of people going into politics for that quaint reason, to serve the public. Notions of the greater good and putting something back now seem absurdly idealistic, such is the pervasiveness of cynicism in our politics and politicians. Of course, self-interest has always played a part, and Oborne will show how our current climate owes much to the venality of the eighteenth century. But in these allegedly enlightened times should we not know better? Do we not deserve better from those who seek our electoral approval? Full of revealing and insightful stories and anecdotes to support his case, and with a passionate call for reform, The Triumph of the Political Class is destined to be one of the defining political books of 2007.

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2. New: Iain Dale's Guide to Political Blogging in the UK 2007-2008
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Political blogs used to be a sideline show. Now, in just a few years, they have developed into an essential part of political dialogue and reporting. In similar vein, Iain Dale's 'Guide to Political Blogging' started life as a small pamphlet and has now become a 268-page book which does much, much more than just provide the only comprehensive directory of its kind. There are more than 30 contributing articles from leading bloggers and commentators, there is a 'Who's Who' section. technical information, the top 500 blogs of course and classified lists of the top 100 Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and Non-Aligned blogs, the top 30 MP blogs, 60 media blogs and 30 councillor blogs.

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3. New: Peter Thorneycroft by Stanley Crooks
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Handsomely produced, Stanley Crooks' new biography has received much praise from senior politicians:

"Peter Thorneycroft was consistently ahead of others in his thinking, and behind them in his search for personal recognition. Stanley Crooks' biography brings this remarkable man alive with lessons as pertinent for today, as they were for his own time." - John Major.

"A meticulous tribute to the Conservative Chancellor who was one of the first to blaze the trail towards economic sanity." - Geoffrey Howe

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4. New:Mark Oaten on Coalition
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As the prospect of a hung parliament looms large, our political protagonists can learn much from the politics and personalities of the past. Mark Oaten's story of coalition government begins in the 1850s, with Disraeli fighting for his political life and Queen Victoria's battle to find a Prime Minister from the Whigs and Peelites driving her to despair. At the start of the following century, the First World War threw Lloyd George into the limelight but nearly killed the Liberal Party; Ramsay MacDonald's coalition in the 1930s saw him become leader without his party, who many felt he had betrayed, and Churchill’s Great War coalition helped bring victory at war but not in peace.

Decades later, two generations and parties came together with David Steel and Jim Callaghan forming the Lib-Lab pact, something Blair and Ashdown's "project" never managed to emulate. North of the border, a deal did come off, resulting in Scotland being run by coalition government for 8 years. Throughout Europe, coalitions are the norm but recent political events in Italy and Germany have been far from normal. All these lessons from history are drawn together by Mark Oaten as he looks forward to the next election and reflects on whether hung parliaments and coalitions can ever work.

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5. New: The Little Book of Boris
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"Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh." - Canvassing in Henley, 2005.

"Their policy on cake is pro-having it and pro-eating it." - Discussing Liberal Democrat policies

There are few politicians who could genuinely be described as a phenomenon. Boris Johnson is one. Boris has star quality. He is loved by many, ridiculed by some, feared by others. This 'little' book contains a selection of the best Boris-isms, collected together by Iain Dale in a pocket-sized guide to all things Boris. Included are quotes by Boris and quotes about him, plus a handy reference to the history of Boris. An absolute must-have for all Boris fans.


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Endquote
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"Of all the vulgar acts of government, that of solving every difficulty that might arise by thrusting the hand into the public purse is the most illusory and contemptible."

- Sir Robert Peel

Taken from Iain Dale's selection of 500 of the Most Witty, Acerbic & Erudite Things Ever Said About Politics