The Right to Rule

A brilliant encapsulation of thirteen years – Andrew Marr
Essential – Jon Sopel
A grippingly-written, detailed book that answers so many questions – Isabel Hardman
Insightful, authoritative and incredibly readable. It had me open-mouthed with amazement – Ed Balls
Superb – Evan Davis
Marvellous … Packed with insight, gossip and candid reflections from the major players – Stephen Bush
Expertly explains how a governing party mainly skilled in backstabbing survived in power – Michael Portillo
A wonderfully written canter through an extraordinary decade and a bit. Highly recommended – Chris Mason
Future historians will take Ben Riley-Smith’s lucid and riveting book as their guide – Alan Johnson
Colourful and richly researched – Rafael Behr
Riley-Smith is an excellent, pithy writer with a knack for a telling phrase – Daily Telegraph
A sharp insider account of the long Tory reign – New Statesman
Terrific. Not all political books are page-turners. This really is. It will be a while before it’s bettered. It is really excellent – Matthew d’Ancona
Filled with chaos, rebellion, infighting, backbiting and catastrophe and much more. Interesting … a cracking read – Financial Times, ‘Readers’ Best Books of 2023’
Future historians will refer to this study in cynicism and clever reinvention – Daily Telegraph, 50 Best Books of 2023
Riley-Smith is an excellent, pithy writer with a knack for a telling phrase … it will remain among the best books written about the chaos and carnage of the last 13 years – Daily Telegraph
A majestic digested read of the last 13 years of Tory leadership, drawing together the threads of fou – Guardian, Best Politics Books of the Year
An impeccably sourced insider account – Financial Times

Ben Riley-Smith is the Daily Telegraph’s Chief Political Commentator. He has spent a decade at the paper covering politics in the Scottish Parliament, Westminster, and Washington, DC. He has interviewed the last five prime ministers and covered the elections and referendums that have shaped recent British politics firsthand. He has been shortlisted twice for political journalism at the British Journalism Awards.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.