Politics by former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is a candid account from the top and bottom of British politics that puts the case for reason in the face of extremes. Politics has changed. In 2010, a hung parliament delivered Britain's first coalition government for more than half a century. Now the rise of nationalist parties has radically altered the balance of power in Westminster: the Conservatives rule with less than a quarter of the eligible vote, a chasm has opened up between Left and Right, and the centre ground is deserted. Nick Clegg knows first-hand the volatile state of modern politics more than anyone else - from his spectacular rise in the 2010 general election, through his tumultuous years as Deputy Prime Minister, to a brutal defeat in 2015. Here he offers a frank and honest account of those experiences in order to tell the inside story of this change and reflect on what it means for our future. Taking us behind the scenes at Downing Street and Whitehall, he shows how the spirit of compromise with which the coalition began was gradually eroded. He writes candidly about his own mistakes - including the controversy around tuition fees - the tense stand-offs within Government, the sometimes bizarre challenges he faced, but he also reveals the extent of his party's achievements during five years of Coalition Government. Throughout, he lifts the lid on the arcane world of Westminster and offers startling insights into the hidden workings of government. Above all, in explaining why he led his party into coalition with the Conservatives, he argues that the survival of progressive politics relies more than ever on an openness to collaboration and compromise, the radical reform of our outdated political system, and the championing of reason in the face of extremes. Whatever your political persuasion, if you wish to understand how Britain is run today you cannot afford to ignore this book.

"A compelling account from the inside of the strange, sad death of liberal Britain. This is a passionate plea for the centre ground, which has never seemed so remote (or precious) in our current political dispensation" -- Ian McEwan
"This engrossing account is written with a warmth and generosity that can't have been easy to sustain given the trials and tribulations he recounts so entertainingly" -- Alan Johnson
"Essential reading for anyone fearful of the rise of populist extremism or who thinks coalitions are the future of British politics" -- Robert Peston
"This is an important book: a revealing analysis of British politics today and why it urgently needs reform" -- Shirley Williams
"People of all political persuasions owe Nick Clegg a debt that I have no doubt history will acknowledge" -- John Major

Nick Clegg was Leader of the Liberal Democrats for eight years from 2007 and Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015. As well as being the Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam, he was previously MEP for the East Midlands. Nick and his wife Miriam were married in her home town in Spain in 2000 and have three young sons - Antonio, Alberto and Miguel. He speaks five languages.