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Blue Murder

The Rise and Fall of the Conservative Government, 2010–2024

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Blue Murder

By: Ben Riley-Smith
Narrated by: Ben Riley-Smith
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About this listen

 'BRILLIANT' ANDREW MARR

'HAD ME OPEN-MOUTHED WITH AMAZEMENT' ED BALLS

'ESSENTIAL' JON SOPEL

'A GRIPPINGLY WRITTEN, DETAILED BOOK THAT ANSWERS SO MANY QUESTIONS' ISABEL HARDMAN

'SUPERB' EVAN DAVIS

The explosive full story of the past dozen years of Tory rule, from coalition to self-destruction; fully updated to include the general election.

Over the last decade, the British people have seen five different Conservative Prime Ministers, with five different missions and five messages to the nation. From the ashes of a financial crisis, to a break from the EU, to a global pandemic, governments - and ideologies - have changed, but Tory power has clung on. Merciless rebellion and the swift ousting of leaders have enabled this, and yet the same ruthlessness may ultimately bring about their downfall.

Witty, hair-raising and brilliantly sourced, Blue Murder links as never before stories of betrayal in Cameron's Coalition, the rifts behind the Referendum, the travails of May, the chaos of the pandemic, the sagas of Johnson, the Truss implosion and the Sunak patch-job.

Through his unique access and unmissable inside stories, acclaimed Westminster journalist Ben Riley-Smith's explosive account is essential for anyone wondering how the Tories kept changing, kept revolting - and kept winning. For readers of Tim Shipman and Rory Stewart, this is the first, fullest and frankest story of the entire Tory government.

Previously published as The Right to Rule©2023 Ben Riley-Smith (P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Elections & Political Process Politics & Government Witty Liberalism Government

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All stars
Most relevant
Nothing new coming to light. Narrator not as good as Fry. Hopefully any more of these political books will be better

Very detailed but more of the same ref cage and N dories

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While I follow politics with interest, this was a great book as it had added inside information and also pulled the story along in a joined up manner
I thought it objective and balanced - very difficult with politics
Well worth a listen

Great Listen

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A reminder although we should not need one of why the Conservatives deserve to be voted out of power as soon as possible. Well put together and a honest portrayal of a political party gone wrong.

A great obituary of a dying party

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Came across as a Tory love in, but I guess it gives a general idea of the incompetence at the "top" of the food chain.

A story of incompetence

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A very detailed account of the Conservative Party, really well written and narrated. I found the author overt evangelical when discussing Boris Johnson, and very quick to mention all the good he enacted, though attempts were made to discuss his pitfalls. But this is a minor point, the author on the whole was objective and well researched

Detailed account

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