The Fall of Boris Johnson

The Fall of Boris Johnson is the explosive inside account of how a prime minister lost his hold on power. From Sebastian Payne, Director of Onward and former Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times.

Winner at the 2022 Parlimentary Book Awards
A New Statesman, The Times, Daily Mail and FT Book of the Year
'Revelatory' - The Daily Telegraph
'Delicious detail' - The Times

Boris Johnson was touted as the saviour of the country and the Conservative Party, obtaining a huge commons majority and finally "getting Brexit done". But within three short years, he was deposed in disgrace, leaving the country in crisis.

Sebastian Payne tells the essential behind-the-scenes story, charting the series of scandals that felled Johnson: from the blocked suspension of Owen Paterson, through partygate and the final death blow: the Chris Pincher allegations. This is the full narrative of the betrayals, rivalries and resignations that resulted in the dramatic Conservative coup - and set in motion those events that saw the party sink to catastrophic new lows.

With unparalleled access to those who were in the room when key decisions were made, Payne tells of the miscalculations and mistakes that led to Boris Johnson's downfall. This is a gripping and timely look at how power is gained, wielded and lost in Britain today.

'Genuinely page-turning' - Andrew Marr

'Entertaining and illuminating' - Tim Shipman

About the Author

Sebastian Payne is the award-winning Whitehall Editor, columnist for the Financial Times and author of the acclaimed Broken Heartlands – The Times’ Political Book of the Year for 2021. Sebastian presents the Payne’s Politics podcast, which was shortlisted for News Podcast of the Year at the 2020 National Press Awards.