Tim Bale is Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London, specialising in British and European party politics. His other books include The Conservatives since 1945 and Five Year Mission: the Labour Party under Ed Miliband. Tim has written for the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Observer and the Telegraph and appeared on radio and television to talk about politics. You can follow him on Twitter @ProfTimBale

* Contents

* 1 SOLVING THE PUZZLE: AN INTRODUCTION

* 2 LOSING THE PLOT: THATCHER TO MAJOR, 1989-1997

* 3 TACTICS OVER STRATEGY: WILLIAM HAGUE, 1997-2001

* 4 ?SIMPLY NOT UP TO IT? : IAIN DUNCAN SMITH, 2001-2003

* 5 LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAME: MICHAEL HOWARD, 2003-2005

* 6 ?COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE DAVE? THE LONG LEADERSHIP CONTEST, MAY-DECEMBER 20051

* 7 ?THE POLITICS OF AND? : OPPOSITION, 2005-2010

* 8 ?THE NATIONAL INTEREST?

* COALITION AND MAJORITY GOVERNMENT, 2010-2015

* 9 GETTING THE MESSAGE: A CONCLUSION

'This fully updated survey is, more than ever, the indispensable study on the recent history of the party, confirming Tim Bale as the best political historian writing today.'

Matthew d?Ancona, columnist, The Guardian and the Evening Standard

'Tim Bale?s study of the Conservatives is a closely argued account of the party?s journey from Thatcher to the present day, and will prove essential reading for anyone interested in politics.'

John Bercow

'An extraordinary portrait of an extraordinary era. It reads so well and it rings so true.'

Gyles Brandreth