No Way to Run a Country is shocking, honest and darkly funny insider's account of nine tumultuous years of Tory rule, through five prime ministers, Brexit, Covid, the invasion of Ukraine and destructive rise of populism.
Johnny Mercer was an unlikely Tory MP. When he stood in the 2015 election he'd never voted before and didn't know what a constituency was. But after 14 years in the military and three tours of Afghanistan, he wanted to improve veterans care in this country and politics was the only way to do it. Fired up and idealistic, he actually believed that politicians should keep their promises to the electorate. With that kind of attitude it's no wonder things went wrong . . .
As a backbencher Johnny creates a political storm when he unwisely calls the May government a shitshow, refuses to be cowed by the whips, and is threatened by ministers for speaking the truth. As Minister for Veterans Affairs, he has a ringside seat for the chaos of Johnson's government, is lied to then sacked by Truss (who laughs in his face), and reinstated by Sunak. With despair, he witnesses the incompetence, cover-ups and ruthless self-interest endemic in our political system. By the time he lost his seat in the 2024 election he was mentally exhausted and stressed to a level he'd never experienced.
Irreverent, insightful and highly entertaining, No Way to Run a Country is the perfect book for anyone who wants to understand what life as an MP is really like and why our government is so inept - and offers a rallying cry for improving our political system. Johnny Mercer is a former British Army Captain who served as the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Moor View from 2015 to 2024. His political career was driven by a desire to improve the treatment of veterans, and he served in several government roles, including Minister for Veterans Affairs (a position he created). Before entering politics, he had a 12-year military career with three tours in Afghanistan. He continues to work to improve veteran care in the UK, and also consults for the Ukrainian military. For fans of books like Politics on the Edge, this is a blistering, eye-opening and funny book about his ten years in politics by the incurably truthful, dogged and popular ex Tory MP and minister Johnny Mercer
