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Why We Get The Wrong Politicians Hardcover

by Isabel Hardman (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 923 ratings
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Review: 'Compelling and Entertaining.' Robert Peston - Political Editor, ITV; 'An entertaining read that addresses hard questions. invaluable for those who think they know what's wrong with Westminster but have no idea how to put it right.' John Humphrys - Presenter, Today programme; 'A fast-paced, intelligent dissection of modern politics, packed full of juicy anecdotes and insider knowledge. What Isabel Hardman doesn't know about parliament isn't worth knowing.' Helen Lewis - Deputy Editor, New Statesman; 'With humour and humanity, Isabel Hardman lifts the lid on the Houses of Parliament and shows with compelling authority how the structure and culture of our political system so often delivers the worst kind of results. This book has the power to fundamentally change how we do things in this country.' Emily Maitlis - Presenter, Newsnight; 'The untold, candid account of our MPs. Isabel Hardman has been able to pierce our protective armour because we trust and respect her. And she's analysed what she found with a fierce intellect.' Harriet Harman MP; 'Highly readable' Jacob Rees-Mogg MP; 'This thoroughly readable and well-researched book explains why parliamentary powers won't ever be used properly until parties change how they choose their candidates.' Lord Peter Mandelson. Book Description: One of the UK's stars in political journalism asks why we lost faith in politicians - and how we can fix our system of government. From the Author: Isabel Hardman is a journalist and broadcaster. She is Assistant Editor of The Spectator and presents Week in Westminster on BBC Radio 4. In 2015, she was named "Journalist of the Year" at the Political Studies Association's annual awards. She lives in London. She frequently appears on television and radio, including Have I Got News For You, The News Quiz, Andrew Marr, Sunday Politics, Robert Peston, and more. About the Author: Isabel Hardman is a journalist and broadcaster. She is Assistant Editor of The Spectator and presents Week in Westminster on BBC Radio 4. In 2015, she was named "Journalist of the Year" at the Political Studies Association's annual awards. She lives in London. She frequently appears on television and radio, including Have I Got News For You, The News Quiz, Andrew Marr, Sunday Politics, Robert Peston, and more.
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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Atlantic Books UK
  3. Dimensions
    6.02 x 0.91 x 9.21 inches
  4. ISBN-10
    1782399739
  5. ISBN-13
    978-1782399735
  6. See all details
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Product details

  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1782399739
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1782399735
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.26 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.02 x 0.91 x 9.21 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 923 ratings

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Isabel Hardman

Isabel Hardman

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Isabel Hardman is the Assistant Editor of the Spectator and also presents Radio 4's Week in Westminster. In 2015 she was named the youngest ever Political Journalist of the Year by the Political Studies Association. She appears regularly on TV and radio, including Have I Got News for You, The Andrew Marr Show, The News Quiz, Today programme, Question Time and Sky News. She also writes columns for The Times, The Guardian, The Sun, The Observer, Evening Standard, and the Daily Telegraph.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
923 global ratings

Top review from the United States

Nigel P
5.0 out of 5 stars Insight into a currently toxic environment
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2019
In my recently published blog, I have recommended this book by Isabel Hardman, as an informative place to help people understand more about the toxic nature of the atmosphere in the Houses of Parliament. We have many excellent MPs and they deserve better than the present environment that they have to operate in. Isabel Hardman gives a very balanced and readable account of why we are where we are.
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Top reviews from other countries

David H Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening and thought provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2022
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An excellent portrayal of the experiences of the people we love to hate, our Members of Parliament. But much more than that this book examines how parliament works, or doesn't very well, and illustrates through, often amusing, sometimes tragic, examples of parliamentary and government business why it goes wrong. The conclusions are thought provoking and you can't help thinking we need to change quite a lot in order to get the 'right politicians'. A thoroughly enjoyable read which changed my views of our politicians somewhat, perhaps I will give them a little more understanding in future. After a long time in being the physical structure of the building is overdue for renovation and perhaps the organisation and procedures of our executive and legislature need substantial reform in order to deliver the governance the electorate deserve.
6 people found this helpful
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Gunars Libeks British by birth Latvian at Heart adopted by the Sots living in Southern Europe
1.0 out of 5 stars This book tells us nothing that we already don't know.
Reviewed in France on April 18, 2019
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As above no more words needed. ( But we need14 for a post.)
An academic exercise which fails to inspire and open minds to try and understand why Parliament fails to work for the masses.
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James Dene
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid analysis needing a more apt title
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2019
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Why we get the wrong politicians is thoroughly explored. The problem though is wider and deeper, as Ms Hardman explains, thus Why We get the Wrong Politics might be a better book title, certainly a more accurate description of the scope of Ms Hardman's efforts. Her writing style is engaging although the book feels just a little padded, especially as she neatly sums the problem in her last chapter (well, I thought so). Half of MPs don't want to be MPs, they want to be Ministers (and therefore don't want to be seen to fault the legislative agenda of their own government) and half want to be 'super' social workers and have neither the interest or ability to examine and fault bad legislation. My guess would be the public view them as almost universally useless wherever their interest and priorities are found, although Ms Hardman is more sympathetic and generous in her own assessment - a failing I can forgive her.
2 people found this helpful
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Kenneth Barrett
5.0 out of 5 stars A terrifying book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2018
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Ms Hardman asks a very timely question indeed, one that many of us have been asking recently.

The answers that come tumbling out of her well-researched text are frightening. Not only are a very large proportion of our politicians of very poor quality, the entire political system is geared in such a way that much of our legislation is poorly drafted and enacted.

There are very few solutions.

One would be to reduce the volume of legislation, and that is a possibility once the dust of Brexit has settled. Another is to discourage unsuitable people from becoming candidates for parliament: not just the obviously idiotic, but those with family commitments far away from London, and those without previous experience of real life. Anybody under the age of 40, who simply feels they "could make a difference", or who feels that being an MP is a nice career move, would be unlikely to make the grade.

Another possible solution would be to cease appointing MPs as ministers. A nonentity suddenly placed in charge of a department with a budget of billions, and whose job affects not just millions of people but the entire nation, is a train crash waiting to happen. Better to bring in a professional with relevant experience.

As to why we get such dismal leadership, as we have at present, then given the quality of our MPs it is inevitable.

Historians in the future will examine Ms Hardman's book and say to themselves, "Ah! This is why the original government of Airstrip One failed."

It is a chilling, and horribly accurate, book.
16 people found this helpful
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Gentoo
3.0 out of 5 stars Too sympathetic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2018
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Well written, lucid, but I was unconvinced by the flow of the argument. I have had the (mis)fortune to meet MPs from most parties in many circumstances. Generally I found many of them to be one or more of: pompous, lightweight, over convinced of their abilities and entitled.

The pay is good, the pension excellent, the severance generous. The perks are good too and they can choose a number of ways to do their job. The clever ones stay in Parliament by over promising and not getting caught not delivering to constituents or negotiating the greasy pole to a safe seat. Not that many of them seem to realise how lucky they are.

It turns out that many of them needed to heed "be careful what you wish for" but most of them, it seems are underqualified overachievers (the author implicitly agrees with this when reporting a recruitment consultant's opinion when MPs that lost their seat look for gainful employment)

It seems that one needs a strong sense of self to survive in Parliament, I was slightly underwhelmed by the seemingly sympathetic tone adopted towards MPs tempted when being surrounded by adoring young people.

Many people can find themselves in that situation. I can think of several social activities with a hierarchy which have a similar problem. So what? Lonely? Give me a break, show some maturity.

A simple test to self for any of them "if you were in less prestigious circumstances would you get similar attention?"

A lot of jobs are miserable and bearable only because of the existence of family or other life. The is no basis for special pleading.

Of course the problem is that this lot are holding the Executive to account and are doing a fairly poor job of it.

Luckily we have "first past the post" (FPTP) so periodically we can get rid of the worst. It's all we have got and it's unclear what else to do.

(Strangely and disappointedly, the author falls into the trap of diminishing the referendum which overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to change FPTP - this and other examples in the book lead me to gain the impression she holds the electorate in slight disdain)

06.12.18 Update: A prime example of the failure to recognise their privilege was provided at a late night debate on Brexit. Surely the most important job MPs have had for years. A tweet invited us to "spare a thought" about the hour. The answering tweets from emergency workers on 30% of the salary never mind the perks certainly showed they had spared a thought and should have shamed the originator.
135 people found this helpful
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