A Very British Revolution: The Expenses Scandal and How to Save Our Democracy

Former BBC reporter, Britain’s first Independent MP in 50 years and tireless campaigner for trust in politics, Martin Bell, had vowed never to write another book. An 88p bathplug changed all that.

The revelations over MP’s expenses beginning in early May 2009 and ranging from petty thieving to outright fraud, sparked a crisis in confidence unprecedented in modern times. This is a 21st century version of the Peasant’s Revolt: an uprising of the people against the political class and its practices and patterns of corruption. These extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and Bell has been compelled to put pen to paper once again.

A Very British Revolution both gives Bell’s unique view - as a parliamentary insider and yet outside the fray of any particular part - of the crisis sparked by the expenses scandal and, most compellingly, lays out Bell’s prescription for healing the deep wounds inflicted by the scandal and rebuilding the UK’s politics. This is the Bell’s manifesto for British politics over the next decade.

As Martin says: ‘I felt that this was a book that had to be written. Our politics and confidence in Government is in a state of crisis. I hope to be able to draw on my experience as an MP and as a member of The Standards and Privileges Committee to explain how these extraordinary problems arose and how we can resolve them so that our democracy comes out the stronger. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to revive our politics.