REVISED AND UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE EXPLOSIVE EVENTS OF 2021 and 2022Winner at the Parliamentary Book AwardsShortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the YearLonglisted for the Orwell Prize____________Daily Telegraph’s Best Books of the YearGuardian’s Best Books of the YearEvening Standard’s Best Books of the YearDaily Mail’s Best Books of the YearBBC’s Biggest BooksProspect’s Best Books of the YearPoliticians are consistently voted the least trusted professional group by the UK public. They’ve recently become embroiled in scandals relating to everything from expenses to sexual harassment to illicit parties. Every year, they introduce new legislation that doesn’t do what it sets out to achieve – often with terrible financial and human costs. But, with some notable exceptions, they are decent, hard-working people, doing a hugely difficult and demanding job. In this searching examination of our political class, award-winning journalist Isabel Hardman tri