W&N pre-empts ‘biting critique of Westminster’ and why ‘British politics is broken’ by Dunt 

W&N has pre-empted a “biting critique of Westminster that shines a light on how British politics really operates” by Ian Dunt, former editor of Politics.co.uk and columnist for the i Paper. 

Jenny Lord, executive publisher of Weidenfeld & Nicolson and Literary, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to How Westminster Works… and Why it Doesn’t from Lisa Moylett at CMM Agency in a pre-empt. It will be published in hardback on 13th April 2023. 

Its synopsis reads: “British politics is broken. Anyone sitting down to watch the news will get a firm sense that something has gone terribly wrong. Prime ministers are misleading and inadequate. Cabinet secretaries are uninformed and deluded.

“Many MPs are of the lowest imaginable quality. The legislation is sloppy, ineffective and broadly worded. Expertise is denigrated. Lies are rewarded. And deep-seated, long-lasting national problems go permanently unresolved. Most of us have a sense that the system doesn’t work – but do we know how to articulate exactly why?

“The reality is that despite all the coverage, hardly anyone understands how Westminster actually works. Our political and financial system is cloaked in secrecy, archaic terminology, ancient custom, impenetrable technical jargon and deliberate obfuscation.

“How Westminster Works… and Why it Doesn’t is an impeccably researched and highly informative account of the reality behind the news stories we read every day. It provides exactly what people in power have always tried to avoid: a description of the mechanisms of government which can be understood by anyone.”

Lord said: “Our political landscape is a mess of sleaze, shiftiness and wilful obfuscation. We all know this. But what we don’t know is exactly how the system allows it to happen. I can’t think of anyone better placed to explain the mechanics of how Westminster really works than Ian Dunt – a first-rate communicator who has been embedded in the heart of the political system for many years – and we’re excited to welcome him to W&N.”

Dunt, author of two previous books (Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now and How to be a Liberal, published by Canbury Press), said: “We debate politics every day, but most of us don’t have a clear idea of how Westminster works. This book will provide something that is missing from our national debate: a short, easy-to-read, one-stop-shop explainer of every aspect of the British political system, from parliament to Downing Street, the Treasury to Fleet Street.

“It’s crammed full of human stories – some tragic, some funny, some bitterly ironic – from people at every level of the political system. We’re going to lift the lid off this thing, and show people how it works – and, when we’re done, how to fix it. I can’t wait to get it into people’s hands.”