The
Political Book
Awards 2015
In association with Politicos.co.uk
About the awards
The Paddy Power Political Book Awards in association with Politicos.co.uk seeks to recognise the very best in political writing and publishing. Winners across ten categories will be chosen by our panels of political celebrity judges with prizes kindly donated by Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC.
Award categories
Political Book of the Year
In association with Lord Ashcroft
The Political Book of the Year will be awarded to the book deemed to have been the most impressive political book published in the past year, or that which has had the most overall impact on politics, political thought and/or political debate. The book will have been widely read, discussed, and will have made a significant contribution to British political debate this year. It will be original and have broken new ground in the field of political writing. It will be superbly written, thoroughly researched, accessible, engaging and enthusiastic. There is a prize of £10,000 for the winner of this award, kindly donated by Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC.
Judges
Lord Ashcroft
Politician, international businessman and philanthropist
Lord Andrew Adonis
Politician, academic and journalist
Ann Treneman
Parliamentary sketchwriter
Keith Simpson
Politician and historian
Mary Beard
Classicist and author
Debut Political Book of the Year
The Debut Political Book of the Year Award will be presented to author of the book judged to have been the most impressive debut by an author of any age. The book will be the first to have been published by the author, and will be well written, clear, show a natural flair for political writing and demonstrate personality and skill. The author will have brought a fresh perspective and expertise to the subject at hand, and illustrate the potential for further political writing in the future. There is a prize of £3,000 for the winner of this award, kindly donated by Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC.
Judges
Damian McBride
Former Civil Servant
Isabel Hardman
Political journalist
Marilyn Warnick
Books Editor of the Mail of Sunday
Jane Merrick
Political Editor of The Independent on Sunday
Nick de Bois
Politician
Political Biography of the Year
The Political Biography of the Year Award will be awarded to the author of a biography or autobiography of a political figure which is superbly well written, accessible, appealing, thoroughly researched, and drawing on a number of resources, both primary and secondary. It will be analytical, reflective, contextual, informative, illustrative, balanced and show an enthusiasm for its subject. Ideally it will bring to light previously unknown information about its subject, doing so in a thought-provoking, inspiring manner. It should address the political context surrounding its subject, as well as the subject itself.
Judges
Andrew Mitchell
Politician
Jo Coburn
Presenter BBC2 Daily Politics
Darren Henley OBE
Managing Director of Classic FM
Carolyn Quinn
Radio presenter
Philip Cowley
Professor of Parliamentary Government
Polemic of the Year
The Polemic of the Year Award will be presented to the author of a book deemed to have presented the most important case of debate. The book will be a thorough and complete argument of its case and will have sparked discussion, been covered widely, be persuasive, show personality and have the power to bring readers round to its way of thinking. Ideally it will have covered previously uncharted ground, or presented a familiar issue in a fresh light. The book should strike a balance between being informative and sustaining its line of argument.
Judges
Zoe Williams
Journalist
Cristina Odone
Journalist, editor and writer
Dan Hannan
Politician
Matthew Parris
Journalist and former politician
Ian Collins
Radio presenter and journalist
Political History Book of the Year
In association with News UK
The Political History Book of the Year Award will be presented to the author of a book judged to have delivered the most impressive piece of political historical writing in the last year. The book can cover any period of history and will clearly demonstrate the political significance of the time in question. The account will be analytical, informative, thoroughly researched, well-written, accessible and appealing. Ideally it would bring to light fresh information on the period it covers, or display an original format. It will show expertise and above all enthusiasm.
Judges
Lisa O'Kelly
Literary Editor The Observer
Robbie Millen
Literary Editor of The Times
Charles Clarke
Politician
Jo Philips
Award-winning journalist and former spin doctor.
Caroline Michel
CEO of Peters Fraser & Dunlop
International Affairs Book of the Year
The International Affairs Book of the Year Award will be awarded to the author of a book which has most comprehensively addressed the international issues of any region, whether these be the topics already dominating the agenda or those lesser known. The book will have addressed its subject in an accessible format, and brought to wider attention the issues under discussion. It should demonstrate expertise, fresh perspective, forward thinking and a comprehensive analysis of the matter at hand, and will be a valuable contribution to the current body of literature on international affairs.
Judges
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Journalist and political commentator
Sir Christopher Meyer
Former British Ambassador to the US
Shami Chakrabarti
Director of Liberty
Petrie Hosken
Radio presenter
Rebecca Winfield
Literary Agent
Practical Politics Book of the Year
The Practical Politics Book of the Year Award will be given to author of a book which has analysed, explained and made accessible the structures and processes of politics, either current or past. It will be well written, clear, analytical, contextual, timely and thoroughly researched, drawing on a number of sources. It will have brought the finer details of the political process to wider attention and shown an enthusiasm for its subject, striking a balance between informing, analysing and sustaining a line of argument.
Judges
Jacqui Smith
Former Home Secretary
Olly Grender
Working Peer
Romilly Weeks
Newsreader and journalist
India Knight
Journalist and author
Peter Hain
Politician
The Political Humour and Satire Book of the Year
The Political Humour and Satire Book of the Year Award will be presented to the author of most witty and/or intelligently satirical political book of the year. The book should be able to raise a smile whilst also conveying a serious and thought-provoking political message. It will be original, entertaining and above all it will make the judges and the reader laugh. It should cover a subject that the reader can identify with, and make the issue at hand more accessible through wit, without demeaning it.
Judges
Peter Brookes
Cartoonist
Shelagh Fogarty
Journalist and radio presenter
Katy Guest
Literary editor of the Independent on Sunday
Andrew Pierce
Journalist and broadcaster
Hugo Rifkind
Columnist and lead writer for The Times.
Political Fiction Book of the Year
The Political Fiction Book of the Year Award will be given to the author of a book which is gripping, engaging and well written. The book will be original, or have provided a fresh twist to the existing political fiction market. It should be relatable to current political issues as well as thought-provoking and entertaining. It should convey a strong political message to the reader, and above all should draw the reader in and be a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Judges
Daisy McAndrew
Political journalist
Anne Alexander
Political Reporter
Guto Harri
Director of Communications, News UK
Steve Norris
Businessman and former MP
Alex Clark
Journalist
World War One Book of the Year
This year, to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, there is an award for the best book on World War One.
Judges
Lord Ashcroft
Politician, international businessman and philanthropist
Keith Simpson
Politician and historian
Nigel West
Author
Mick Smith
Author
Sarah Paterson
Library Development Team at The Imperial War Museum
Venue and ceremony
- BFI IMAX
- 28.01.2015
The awards ceremony will take place at the BFI IMAX cinema on the 28th January 2015. Featuring a compére, high-profile judges and announcers for each award as well as the best political writers around.
The votes are in …
Matthew Goodwin and Robert Ford win Political Book of the Year.
Andrew Marr wins Lifetime Achievement Award.
Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain by academics Matthew Goodwin and Robert Ford, published by Routledge, won the Political Book of the Year tonight at the Paddy Power Political Book Awards. The glittering ceremony, which was hosted by impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner and held at the BFI IMAX, was attended by a select audience of authors, publishers and politicians. A cheque for £10,000 was donated and presented to the winning author by Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC. The book was up against fierce competition in a category that included Please, Mister Postman by Alan Johnson (Bantam Press), The Snowden Files by Luke Harding (Guardian Faber), Smile For the Camera by Simon Danczuk and Matthew Baker (Biteback Publishing), Margot At War by Anne de Courcy (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts (Allen Lane) and Parliament: The Biography by Chris Bryant (Doubleday). The judges for this category, Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, Professor Mary Beard, Keith Simpson MP, Lord Adonis and Ann Treneman reached a unanimous decision when they met to choose the winner. They agreed that Revolt on the Right is ‘a ground-breaking book which provides essential and enjoyable reading for anyone who wants to understand the shifts in modern politics. Their story relies on an impressive amount of data and their analysis has been borne out by recent events.’ Lord Ashcroft commented, ‘Revolt on the Right is an insightful book which is scholarly and analytical yet accessible and readable at the same time. It is a superbly timed work that does exactly what it says on the tin, charting the reasons for the rise of UKIP as a political force. Once again, I am delighted to have supported this prestigious event.’
Roy Jenkins: A Well-Rounded Life by John Campbell (Jonathan Cape) won Political Biography of the Year. The award was presented by Catherine Colloms Director of Corporate Affairs for headline sponsor Paddy Power. She commented: ‘Paddy Power is delighted to be involved with the Political Book Awards for the third year running. Biography was a particularly strong category this year so it was with great pleasure that I presented this award to John Campell for his wonderful and revealing biography of Roy Jenkins.’ Other titles on the shortlist were The Churchill Factor by Boris Johnson (Hodder & Stoughton), Sailing Close to the Wind by Dennis Skinner (Quercus), Right or Wrong: The Memoirs of Lord Bell by Tim Bell (Bloomsbury Continuum), Coming Up Trumps by Jean Trumpington (Macmillan) and Clement Attlee by Michael Jago (Biteback Publishing).
Winner of the Political History Book of the Year, in association with News UK, was Modernity Britain Book Two: A Shake of the Dice (1959–62) by David Kynaston (Bloomsbury). The award was presented by David Dinsmore, editor of The Sun.
The Debut Political Book of the Year was won by Ramita Navai, author of City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran (Weidenfeld & Nicolson). Journalist and presenter Faisal Islam presented the winning author with a cheque for £3,000, kindly donated by Lord Ashcroft.
Women of the World: The Rise of the Female Diplomat by Helen McCarthy (Bloomsbury) won the International Affairs Book of the Year. Andrew Mitchell MP presented her with the award.
Practical Politics Book of the Year was won by Charles Clarke MP for The ‘Too Difficult’ Box: The Big Issues Politicans Can’t Crack (Biteback Publishing). He was presented with the award by broadcaster and journalist Andrew Neil.
Martin Rowson’s The Coalition Book (SelfMadeHero) won Political Humour and Satire Book of the Year. The award was presented by the French Ambassador, Her Excellency Sylvie Bermann.
Political Fiction Book of the Year was won by former BBC reporter Terry Stiastny for her first novel, Acts of Omission (John Murray). She was presented with her prize by journalist and broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire.
Geoffrey Robertson QC won Polemic of the Year for his book An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians? (Biteback Publishing). He was presented with his award by Mr Speaker, John Bercow.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One, a special category was added to the awards this year. The World War One Book of the Year was won by David Olusoga for his book The World’s War (Head of Zeus). Professor Mary Beard presented him with the award.
Finally, the Lifetime Achievement Award for Political Writing was presented to journalist, broadcaster and author Andrew Marr. His colleague on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, producer Barney Jones, presented him with the award.
Iain Dale, founder of the awards, said: ‘2015 is a massive year for everyone in politics, and by definition anyone who writes about it. The role of these awards in showcasing and encouraging the finest political writing has never been more significant. These are the books that have helped shape our thinking and will continue to do so right up to the general election and beyond.’
For more information please contact Suzanne Sangster on 07717 536 498 or 020 7091 1260 suzanne.sangster@politicalbookawards.com
Winners
- Political Book of the Year
- Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain by Robert Ford & Matthew Goodwin (Routledge)
- Polemic of the Year
- An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians? by Geoffrey Robertson QC (Biteback Publishing)
- International Affairs Book of the Year
- Women of the World: The Rise of the Female Diplomat by Helen McCarthy (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Political History Book of the Year
- Modernity Britain: Book Two: A Shake of the Dice 1959–62 by David Kynaston (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Political Biography of the Year
- Roy Jenkins by John Campbell (Jonathan Cape)
- World War One Book of the Year
- The World's War by David Olusoga (Head of Zeus)
- Political Humour and Satire Book of the Year
- The Coalition Book by Martin Rowson (SelfMadeHero)
- Debut Political Book of the Year
- City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran by Ramita Navai (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
- Political Fiction Book of the Year
- Acts of Omission by Terry Stiastny (John Murray)
- Practical Politics Book of the Year
- The ‘Too Difficult’ Box by Charles Clarke (Biteback Publishing)
Shortlisted books
Political heavyweights Alan Johnson, Dennis Skinner, Boris Johnson, Charles Clarke, Kwasi Kwarteng, Nadine Dorries and Gordon Brown join journalists Andrew Marr, James Naughtie, Anne de Courcy and John Rentoul on the shortlists for the Paddy Power Political Book Awards. Now in their third year, the awards celebrate and reward excellence across all areas of political publishing.
The winner of the Political Book of the Year will receive a cheque for £10,000 donated by Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC. Titles shortlisted in this category are: The Snowden Files by Luke Harding (Guardian Faber), Please, Mister Postman by Alan Johnson (Bantam Press), Margot at War by Anne de Courcy (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), Parliament: The Biography Volume 1 and 2 by Chris Bryant (Doubleday), Revolt on the Right by Robert Ford and Matthew Goodwin (Routledge), Smile for the Camera by Simon Danczuk and Matthew Baker (Biteback Publishing) and Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts (Allen Lane).
There is also a cheque for £3,000 for the winner of the Debut Political Book of the Year, again generously donated by Lord Ashcroft. Titles in this category are: The 13th Labour of Hercules by Yannis Palaiologos (Portobello Books), City of Lies by Ramita Navai (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), Turkish Awakening by Alev Scott (Faber & Faber), In the Name of the People by Lara Pawson (I. B. Tauris), How to Be a Minister by John Hutton and Leigh Lewis (Biteback Publishing) and The Dark Net: Inside the Digital Underworld by Jamie Bartlett (William Heinemann).
The awards cover all areas of political writing. Other awards presented on the night include Political Biography of the Year, Polemic of the Year, Political History Book of the Year in association with News UK, Political Fiction Book of the Year, the Political Humour and Satire Book of the Year, International Affairs Book of the Year and Practical Politics Book of the Year. This year, to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, there is an award for Best Book on World War One. A total of 62 books are shortlisted across all 10 categories. There is also a Lifetime Achievement Award in Political Literature.
Iain Dale, founder of the awards, said, ‘The Paddy Power Political Book Awards have become a permanent fixture in the book awards calendar. The calibre of the shortlisted authors is once again outstanding and the awards celebrate the breadth and diversity in political writing.’
Andy McCue, Paddy Power Chief Executive, said “We are delighted to once again support the Political Book Awards and are impressed by the quality of writing on show this year. With such a fantastic shortlist it’s anyone’s guess who will emerge as favourite for the top prize.”
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC said: “Once again, I am delighted to be supporting The Paddy Power Political Book Awards and sponsoring two of the main prizes. Having seen the superb standard of the work submitted by the shortlisted authors, political writing in our country is clearly going from strength to strength.”
The judging panels are made up of leading political figures, political journalists and people from the world of publishing, including Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, Charles Clarke, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Damian McBride, Ann Treneman, Andrew Mitchell, Caroline Michel, Marilyn Warnick and Mary Beard.
The awards will be presented at a star-studded ceremony, hosted for the first time by impressionist Rory Bremner, on Wednesday 28 January at the BFI IMAX cinema.
For more information please contact Suzanne Sangster on 07717 536 498 or 020 7091 1260 suzanne.sangster@politicalbookawards.com.
#PBAwards
Notes to Editors
SHORTLISTS IN FULL
Political Book of the Year
- Parliament: The Biography by Chris Bryant (Doubleday)
- Margot at War by Anne de Courcy (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
- Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain by Robert Ford & Matthew Goodwin (Routledge)
- Please, Mister Postman by Alan Johnson (Bantam Press)
- The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man by Luke Harding (Guardian Faber)
- Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith by Simon Danczuk & Matthew Baker (Biteback Publishing)
- Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts (Allen Lane)
Polemic of the Year
- Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates (Simon & Schuster)
- Unspeakable Things Sex, Lies and Revolution by Laurie Penny (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Harry's Last Stand by Harry Leslie Smith (Icon Books)
- The Establishment: And How They Get Away with It by Owen Jones (Allen Lane)
- An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians? by Geoffrey Robertson (Biteback Publishing)
- AIDS: Don’t Die of Prejudice by Norman Fowler (Biteback Publishing)
International Affairs Book of the Year
- Ping-Pong Diplomacy by Nicholas Griffin (Simon & Schuster)
- No Place to Hide by Glenn Greenwald (Hamish Hamilton)
- Political Order and Political Decay by Francis Fukuyama (Profile Books)
- Women of the World: The Rise of the Female Diplomat by Helen McCarthy (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Rogue Elephant by Simon Denyer (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- War and Gold by Kwasi Kwarteng (Bloomsbury Publishing)
Political History Book of the Year
- National Service: Conscription in Britain, 1945–1963 by Richard Vinen (Allen Lane)
- Phantom Terror: The Threat of Revolution and the Repression of Liberty 1789–1848 by Adam Zamoyski (William Collins)
- Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny by Michael Broers (Faber & Faber)
- Mecca: The Scared City by Ziauddin Sardar (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Modernity Britain: Book Two: A Shake of the Dice 1959–62 by David Kynaston (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- The People: The Rise and Fall of the Working Class 1910–2010 by Selina Todd (John Murray)
Political Biography of the Year
- The Churchill Factor by Boris Johnson (Hodder & Stoughton)
- Roy Jenkins by John Campbell (Jonathan Cape)
- Sailing Close to the Wind by Dennis Skinner (Quercus)
- Right or Wrong: The Memoirs of Lord Bell by Tim Bell (Bloomsbury Continuum)
- Coming Up Trumps by Jean Trumpington (Macmillan)
- Clement Attlee by Michael Jago (Biteback Publishing)
World War One Book of the Year
- From Downing Street to the Trenches: First Hand Accounts from the Great War 1914–1916 by Mike Webb (Bodleian Library)
- Margot Asquith's Great War Diary 1914–1916 edited by Michael Brock and Eleanor Brock (Oxford University Press)
- The First World War on the Home Front by Terry Charman (Andre Deutsch)
- Fatal Fortnight by Duncan Marlor (Frontline Books)
- The World's War by David Olusoga (Head of Zeus)
- Englanders and Huns by James Hawes (Simon & Schuster)
Political Humour and Satire Book of the Year
- Who's Feckin Who in Irish History by Colin Murphy (illustrated by Brendan O'Reilly) (The O'Brien Press)
- Listellany by John Rentoul (Elliott & Thompson)
- Would They Lie to You by Robert Hutton (Elliott & Thompson)
- The Best of Britain's Political Cartoons 2014 edited by Tim Benson (Scribe UK)
- I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by John Crace (Bantam Press)
- A Very Courageous Decision: The Inside Story of Yes Minister by Graham McCann (Aurum Press)
- The Coalition Book by Martin Rowson (Self Made Hero)
Debut Political Book of the Year
- The 13th Labour of Hercules: Inside the Greek Crisis by Yannis Palaiologos (Portobello Books)
- City of Lies by Ramita Navai (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
- Turkish Awakening by Alev Scott (Faber & Faber)
- In the Name of the People by Lara Pawson (I. B. Tauris)
- The Dark Net: Inside the Digital Underworld by Jamie Bartlett (William Heinemann)
- How to Be a Minister by John Hutton & Leigh Lewis (Biteback Publishing)
Political Fiction Book of the Year
- Acts of Omission by Terry Stiastny (John Murray)
- Miss Carter's War by Sheila Hancock (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Head of State by Andrew Marr (Fourth Estate)
- Barbarians by Tim Glencross (John Murray)
- The Madness of July by James Naughtie (Head of Zeus)
- The Four Streets by Nadine Dorries (Head of Zeus)
Practical Politics Book of the Year
- The Europe Dilemma: Britain and the Drama of EU Integration by Roger Liddle (I. B. Tauris)
- Scotland's Referendum: A Guide for Voters by David Torrance & Jamie Maxwell (Luath Press)
- The Democratic Unionist Party: From Protest to Power by Jonathan Tonge, Máire Braniff, Thomas Hennessey, James W. McAuley and Sophie A. Whiting (Oxford University Press)
- Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box by Philip Cowley & Robert Ford (Biteback Publishing)
- The ‘Too Difficult’ Box by Charles Clarke (Biteback Publishing)
- My Scotland, Our Britain by Gordon Brown (Simon & Schuster)
A word from our sponsor
The insight, skill and wit of political authors should be celebrated, which is why we’re delighted to sponsor the Political Book Awards.
We were one of the first bookmakers to offer betting based on the political landscape and have enjoyed speculating on both the domestic and international scene ever since. Our aim in this area has always been to spark debate and get people talking, as well as bring a bit of fun to affairs of state, so we hope that the Paddy Power Political Book Awards in association with Politicos.co.uk will continue to do just that.
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If you have any further queries about The Political Book Awards, please contact Suzanne Sangster at suzanne.sangster@politicalbookawards.com or by calling 0207 091 1260.