Corrupted Kingdom Britain's Disappearing Integrity - And How We Can Get It Back

'Wonderful, highly readable and impassioned' Daron Acemoglu, author of WHY NATIONS FAIL

'Fascinating and sobering. A very important book. Every MP should read it' Andrew Lownie

'Required reading for anyone who cares about how democracy works - both as a warning and a call to action' Bill Browder

A SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026

Cash from anonymous donors. Cronyism in government contracts. Politicians who sell their influence to the highest bidder. Corruption is rife in British politics.

Britain is complacent about corruption. We are used to thinking of ourselves as firm defenders of fairness and the rule of law. But our institutions have never been more corrupt, from scandals in parliament and local government to crises in housing and the NHS. The evidence is impossible to ignore. Political leaders face a clear choice: tackle corruption or continue on the road to decline.

Robert Barrington is one of the world's leading researchers on corruption. Corrupted Kingdom is his comprehensive examination of how corruption manifests in Britain, from politicians to prisons, the Monarchy and the Met. He assesses the origins of corruption, from Londongrad to the end of Empire, and shows how we can best reverse the decline and restore trust in politics and the democratic process.

Vital and authoritative, Corrupted Kingdom provides an essential insight into why the abuse of power harms us all - and how we can banish corruption for good.