Stewart, Campbell and Bryant shortlisted for Parliamentary Book Awards

Rory Stewart’s Politics on the Edge (Jonathan Cape), Chris Bryant’s Code of Conduct (Bloomsbury) and Alastair Campbell’s But What Can I Do? (Hutchinson Heinemann) have been shortlisted for the 2023 Parliamentary Book Awards.

Launched in 2016 by The Publishers Association (PA) and Booksellers Association (BA), the awards recognise "excellent political writing" across three categories, comprising best non-fiction or fiction by a parliamentarian, best memoir or autobiography by a parliamentarian and best political book by a non-parliamentarian.

Publishers were invited to nominate titles and authors for the awards and booksellers selected the shortlists. Parliamentarians will now vote to decide the winner in each category until 17th January, with winners presented with their awards at the Houses of Parliament in February 2024.

Alongside Stewart and Bryant’s books, the category for non-fiction and fiction by a parliamentarian features Jesse Norman’s The Winding Stair (Biteback Publishing).

In the category for the best memoir or autobiography, Daniel Finkelstein has been shortlisted for Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad (William Collins), alongside Wes Streeting for One Boy, Two Bills & a Fry Up (Hodder & Stoughton) and Dawn Butler for A Purposeful Life (Torva).

The non-parliamentarian category features Campbell’s book alongside Philippa Gregory’s Normal Women (William Collins) and Polly Toynbee’s An Uneasy Inheritance (Atlantic Books). Also on this list are Robert Peston and Kishan Koria, shortlisted for Bust? (Hodder & Stoughton), as well as Matt Chorley, on the list for Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors (William Collins).

Dan Conway, c.e.o. of the PA, said: “The Parliamentary Book Awards aim to spotlight the very best in political writing, and the last year has offered some of the most influential books yet. This years’ shortlist is really varied, with something for everyone. I look forward to seeing the results of the voting next year, and welcoming parliamentarians, authors, publishers, and booksellers to the House of Commons once again in February, to celebrate these important books.”

Meryl Halls, managing director of the BA, added: “The Parliamentary Book Awards is such a unique event in the awards calendar and booksellers love being part of the shortlisting process. The Awards highlight the huge range of opinions across the political spectrum and this year’s shortlist is no exception. I’m looking forward to the ceremony in February and can’t wait to see which titles parliamentarians pick as the winners.”