Members Behaving Badly

‘A deliciously scandalous new history charts the dishonourable antics of our honourable members … Kilroy’s book is enough to make the reader question democracy, when we are confronted with such a grim catalogue of egomania. I hope Kilroy writes a second volume, bringing the saga up to the present day.’ Daily Mail, Book of the Week

‘[A] lively, well-laid-out, thoroughly entertaining and novel history of the House of Commons over three dynamic centuries.’ Country Life

e‘A riot of malfeasance and misbehaviour… Debbie Kilroy reminds us that, though we might imagine ourselves ill-served by our current crop of MPs, some of their predecessors were hilariously and horribly worse.’ Roger Moorhouse, author of Wolfpack

‘Relevant, informative and timely, Kilroy shows us the real unparliamentary behaviour of the past, whilst also reminding us some things never change!’ Jackson van Uden, ‘History with Jackson’

‘Reader beware - beneath the veneer of rogues, scoundrels and libertines lies a dark world filled with pirates, kidnapping, adultery, duels, baby swapping, gambling, murder and devil worship. Kilroy’s research is exemplary and her story telling is brimming with detail sprinkled throughout with wit and humour. This is a must read!’ Kate Vigurs, author of Mission France: The True History of the Women of SOE

‘Thought the likes of Johnson, Hancock, Pincher and Parish were the worst behaved MPs of all time? Think again … Funny, eye-opening and jaw-dropping.’ Charlie Higson, author of Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee

‘A thoroughly entertaining gallop through four centuries of Parliamentarian perfidy. Members Behaving Badly is a Hogarthian gallery of rogues and rotters, full of the woeful and riotous tales of the many men who have disgraced the benches of Westminster. I enjoyed it very much.’ Jonathan Healey, author of The Blazing World

‘This witty and well-written book highlights 52 parliamentary rogues from 1603 to 1945. There are fascinating stories of blackmail, adultery, embezzlement and murder. It’s a rattling good read.’ Professor Frank McDonough, author of The Hitler Years

Debbie Kilroy is a writer and historian. She studied history at the University of Birmingham as an undergraduate, where she won the Kenrick Prize. In 2014, she founded the award-winning ‘Get History’ platform, dedicated to making high-quality history accessible to a broad audience through storytelling and debate.

Debbie holds a Masters in Historical Studies from the University of Oxford, graduating with distinction and receiving the Kellogg College Community Engagement and Impact Award. She has collaborated with Histories of the Unexpected and Inside History. Her article for Parliaments, Estates and Representation earned the international ICHRPI Emile Lousse prize for the best political article by an emerging historian.

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