Husain, author of The House of Islam: A Global History
‘The Conservative Party may now be master of all it surveys, but its obsession with Brexit has denuded it of a consistent and workable political economy – which certainly, as Nick Timothy argues, is not going to lie in reheating some combination of austerity and Thatcherism. In a The State We’re In for the political right that looks unflinchingly at our ills, he sets out a reforming economic and social programme which may chime with Boris Johnson more than the consensus expects – a timely and must-read contribution to the national debate.’
Will Hutton, Principal of Hertford College, Oxford, author of The State We’re In and Observer columnist
‘Nick Timothy’s new book harnesses his unique combination of intellectual depth and practical policy experience to offer a bold and original diagnosis of the ills that bedevil today’s polarized Western societies. He introduces the key idea of the “liberal ratchet”, in which today’s “meritocratic” elite seeks to untether itself from rooted majorities, working through institutions shielded from the electorate – courts, universities, agencies, parts of the media – to advance a universalist vision. Intellectuals are generally drawn to the individualisms of left and right, while their electorates yearn in vain for stability and community. Blending centre-left economics and small-‘c’ conservatism in culture, Timothy’s new book speaks to today’s forgotten majorities.’
Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics at Birkbeck College, University of London, and author of Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities
‘People on the left rarely read anything written by conservatives. They should make an exception for Nick Timothy’s book. If they are smart it will make them think. If they are really smart they may be surprised at how much of it they agree with.’
Martin Kettle, Guardian columnist
‘Readers on the right may savour Nick Timothy’s savage take down of the political tribe he brands the “ultra-liberal” – the group he blames for many of the country’s ills. What’s more timely though is what he puts forward as an alternative. The label “One Nation Conservative” is all the rage in SW1, but even to many in Westminster, what it means in practice is still something of a mystery. In an extremely readable way, with the benefit of his experience and agony in government, Timothy defines what that mantra might mean for Conservative policy, and all of our real lives in the 21st century.’
Laura Kuenssberg, BBC Political Editor
‘Nick Timothy has shed a bright light on the crisis facing liberal democracy. Without flinching from hard truths, he offers persuasive diagnoses and plausible prescriptions, where others offer only vitriol and venom. This is a must-read for those struggling to understand this era on both sides of the Atlantic.’
Yuval Levin, author of The Fractured Republic
‘Caught between libertarian economics and social liberalism, contemporary conservatism is in need of a fundamental rethink to address economic and cultural insecurity. Nick Timothy’s brilliant book combines a compelling critique of ultra-liberalism with a thoughtful restatement of One Nation Conservatism that can help to build a majority politics anchored in institutions enabling people to pursue the good life. This is a vital contribution to public political debate in Britain and beyond.’
Professor Adrian Pabst, co-author of The Politics of Virtue: Post-Liberalism and the Human Future
‘Nick Timothy is one of Britain’s most original conservative thinkers. His new book, informed by a near-decade of experience at the heart of government, draws on meticulously researched and well-presented data to examine the complex and chronic maladies of affluent liberal democracies. A must-read for anyone seeking to better understand the deep roots of Brexit and other contemporary political upheavals across the West.’
Bojan Pancevski, Germany Correspondent for The Wall Street Journal
‘In recent years, British politics has blundered into a state of permanent crisis, whose roots run deep. And Nick Timothy didn’t just have a front-row seat – he was on the stage. This book blends an insider account with years of thinking about how we got here and where we might go.’
Amol Rajan, BBC Media Editor
‘Nick Timothy is the genuine Conservative modernizer, forensically challenging fashionable “ultra liberal” orthodoxies and putting the case for a more active state. This is both a gripping read and a route map towards an urgently needed One Nation Conservatism.’
Steve Richards, writer and broadcaster
‘Much of the writing of political philosophy has been done by those who’ve never had to muddy their preconceptions with the grime of power and office. Timothy is unusual in that he combines a ferociously penetrating intellect with a period as a particularly influential chief of staff to the Prime Minister. The resulting book thus has particular authority. Like much of the best political philosophy over the centuries, it is written by someone with understanding.’
Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, historian and author
‘Combining philosophical insights with a wealth of policy experience, Nick Timothy offers a powerful critique of our current political malaise as rooted in the excesses of a distorted liberalism and offers a timely reminder of the intellectual and practical resources of a One Nation Conservatism. Those who want to understand where we are, how we got here, and what a future progressive conservative agenda should look like, will find this book a thought-provoking and rewarding read.’
Dr Matt Sleat, author of Liberal Realism: A Realist Theory of Liberal Politics
‘The greatest threat to liberal democracies is when values and principles are neither articulated nor contested. This is a problem for the left and the right. Nick Timothy’s book outlines a way forward for the conservatives, but also charts a path for restoring trust which transcends party politics.’
Gisela Stuart, former Labour MP
‘True to form, Nick Timothy offers his readers an urgent critique of the limits of excessive liberalism that cuts to the heart of our broken political settlement. His ideas are incisive and radical – they should be listened to by anyone who wants to restore trust and sense to government.’
Will Tanner, Director of centre-right think tank Onward
‘Across the Western world democratic states face mounting problems. Old identities dissolve. Disillusion increases. Here, Brexit is a body blow to old party loyalties and has created a new divide. Nick Timothy, both insider and analyst, has written a mordant dissection of the destructive ultra-liberalism that lies at the root of the problem with its “twin traps of impractical individualism and unrealistic universalism”. He argues that a modern One Nation Conservatism is the practical way of repairing society. Brexiteers have put their faith in a rejuvenated nation state alive to the needs of all citizens. This tract for the times provides an ambitious agenda.’
Robert Tombs, Professor Emeritus of French History, Cambridge University
‘A searingly honest and compelling account of an era-defining period of modern British political history. Nick Timothy’s powerfully insightful re-evaluation of what it means to be conservative should be a must-read for anyone wanting to make sense of the failure of liberalism, and the future of centre-right
