Pan Mac scoops inside story of Boris Johnson's downfall by Payne

Pan Macmillan has scooped the inside story of Boris Johnson’s downfall by Financial Times journalist Sebastian Payne.

Matthew Cole, senior commissioning editor, acquired world English language rights to The Fall of Boris Johnson from David Evans at David Higham Associates. It will publish in hardback, e-book and audio for Christmas 2022.

The publisher said: “The Fall of Boris Johnson will offer readers a fascinating inside account of how the prime minister lost his grip on power. Boris Johnson won an impressive mandate in the 2019 general election but just over two-and-a-half years later he was forced to resign by his fellow MPs. The book will tell the essential behind-the-scenes story, charting the series of scandals that felled Johnson; from the blocked suspension of Owen Paterson to Partygate, and finally the Chris Pincher allegations, which were the final death blow. This is the full narrative of all the political betrayals, rivalries and resignations that led to the Conservative coup.”

Payne is the award-winning Whitehall editor and columnist for the Financial Times and author of the acclaimed Broken Heartlands (Macmillan), which was named the Times’ Political Book of the Year for 2021. 

He commented: “Boris Johnson is the most consequential politician of our time and his legacy will last for generations. I’ve spent all of my career following his rise and, now, his sudden fall. I’m delighted to be working with Pan Mac on this first draft of history, which will shed light on one of the most shocking political defenestrations Westminster has ever seen.”

Cole said: “No one is better placed than Sebastian to chart the downfall of one of the most divisive yet influential politicians of modern times. The book will pull back the curtains of power, offering an in-the-room perspective as the dramatic and tumultuous events unfolded. Full of political skullduggery, backstabbing, and fights for power, this will be the political book of the year.”