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  • The Right to Rule

  • Thirteen Years, Five Prime Ministers and the Implosion of the Tories
  • By: Ben Riley-Smith
  • Narrated by: Ben Riley-Smith
  • Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (51 ratings)
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The Right to Rule

By: Ben Riley-Smith
Narrated by: Ben Riley-Smith
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Summary

The explosive full story of the past dozen years of Tory rule.

The Right to Rule is the full story of what has just happened in British politics, and how it has shaped Westminster and, by extension, the nation. Over the last decade, we have seen five different Conservative Prime Ministers, with five different missions and messages to the nation. Not for two centuries has such political turnover been seen. From the ashes of a financial crisis, to a break from the UK's biggest trading block, to a global pandemic, governments - and ideologies - have changed, but the Conservative party's power has remained. Through his unique access and brilliant insights, Ben Riley-Smith captures the big picture: how the Tories kept changing, kept revolting - and kept winning.

Witty, hair-raising and brilliantly sourced, this single account will link as never before stories of the Coalition, the Referendum, the travails of May, the chaos of the pandemic, the sagas of Johnson, the Truss implosion and the Sunak patch-job. This riveting account show how ruthless reinvention has allowed them to cling to power so successfully, and yet may ultimately bring about their downfall. It is the essential, entertaining and explosive account for anyone wondering how Britain got into this state.

©2023 Ben Riley-Smith (P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

A brilliant encapsulation of thirteen years (Andrew Marr)
Essential (Jon Sopel)
A grippingly-written, detailed book that answers so many questions (Isabel Hardman)

What listeners say about The Right to Rule

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Very interesting and well narrated

Enjoyed this overview with its insights into different perspectives and personalities within our recent political history

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Very interesting.

A very interesting read. Gives insight into a nightmare 13 years. Can recommend. Author narrating his own book.

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Not entirely as impartial as I’d hoped but …

… well worth a listen. The story of the last 13 years of British politics has to be understood so we can ensure it never happens again!

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Unpicking the confusion and turmoil

I follow Politics with a concerned interest, This book is wonderfully insightful, digestible and superbly narrated. Anybody wanting to read the facts around the recent Conservative Government would enjoy this presentation.
Bringing together the News headlines without the Author being judgemental. It can be all to easy to be emotive around Politics,

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Excellent read

Whilst I know most of the individuals stories, scandals and limited successes of the Tory Party over the last 13 years, this book did a great job of connecting them together and explaining why the party does what it does!

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Excellent analysis and well researched

A compelling and thoughtful analysis of the last 13 years. Meticulously researched and a pacy narrative. Highly recommended

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Detailed account

A very detailed account of the Conservative Party, really well written and narrated. I found the author overt evangelical when discussing Boris Johnson, and very quick to mention all the good he enacted, though attempts were made to discuss his pitfalls. But this is a minor point, the author on the whole was objective and well researched

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Absorbing

Interesting account of recent political events which tell you something new about what happened and why. Well worth a listen.

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A great obituary of a dying party

A reminder although we should not need one of why the Conservatives deserve to be voted out of power as soon as possible. Well put together and a honest portrayal of a political party gone wrong.

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Good listen

A good overall view of the “leadership” of the Conservatives since 2010. I really enjoyed it.

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