Ebury Press Why We Were Right.

by Rosie Holt

Rosie Holt, the desperate and loyal Tory MP famous for her viral twitter ‘interviews’, is finally here in book form to celebrate the last 14 years of Conservative government and explain to you, the British public, why the so called “scandals” or “controversial” decisions derided by the left were completely right (and intentional) all along. She’ll make Tories of you all yet.

Having flourished as an MP during the reign of Boris and clung on through to Rishi Sunak’s government, via a short and turbulent detour through the brief fever dream of Liz Truss, Rosie – everyone’s favourite MP – will have you cheering and desperate to ensure the Tories rule for another 14 years. Let’s make Britain great again. (Again.)

Genres: Audiobook, Politics, Comedy, Satire, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 20, 2024

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun listen to get me through my last long run pre half marathon. Like an extended standup set, I loved the chapter on levelling up and the north, and the crucible/superman 2 throwbacks.

[T.O. Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have heard that the writers of The Thick of it eventually gave up because they felt contemporary politics had gone beyond the reach of satire. But in the 12 years since that last episode aired ever deeper depths have been plumbed in a Mariana Trench of political and moral ineptitude.

Rosie Holt has bravely tried to skewer the bubble of Tory corrupt complacency by holding up a mirror that is so shallowly distorting as to be often mistaken for the real thing. Her tweets* and edited videos depicting herself as a hapless Tory backbencher have gulled a fair few commentators, so credible is her portrayal of awfulness.

This book entertainingly presents that faux persona - a kind of love child of Michael Fabricant and Nadine Dorries - with a faux memoir on the fringes of power.

Within the convincingly bumbling voice, Holt delivers some nicey sharp lines.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a country with a decent economy must be in want of a friendly dictatorship
We wouldn't dream of working with Eritrea. Their human rights record is appalling and they also have nothing we want or need.
Or the chapter where Liz Truss's entire awful premiership, in its dreadful economy trashing reality, is presented as a dream that may, or may not have happened.

We learn that Rosie Holt MP derives all her literary inspiration from a GCSE reading of The Cricible and a much rewatched action film Superman II. Sadly the MP is somewhat blind to Superman's own immigrant and refugee status, alongside his very substantial contribution to society.

*(yes, Elon, they are still tweets)

[Paul Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having gaslit the nation for a decade and a half, tories are now doubling down on their record with this post fact justification from Rosie Holt, a fictional back bench tory MP. (Spoiler alert: its satire). From Brexit, among other policies, through partygate, Russian influence, and climate change to the Rwanda policy, with a short detour through a Liz Truss fever dream of economic competence, Rosie MP-splains why all the tory policies were so necessary, and so deeply honorable. If you enjoy political satire, you will enjoy this.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know that Rosie Holt was a comedienne and was thinking that she was a real MP, but after reading comments online I realized that she wrote this book as satire and I enjoyed reading it. I honestly thought that this was a real book and was convinced that I would be steaming by the end of it, but now knowing it is satire it is actually quite funny. You know that the Tories were thinking that they were right and I loved that she took the mickey out of us Northerners, we do that ourselves as well. So in short this is comedy and not to be taken seriously.

[aliya · Rating 4 out of 5]

banger! laff out loud! rosie holt the woman that you are. reads part sartorial MP, part parody, part cluedo-esque mystery while you're trying to work out what piece of classic literature/film she's taking the piss out of now. andy burnham brief encounter is something i'd be seated for. the train! the train!

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed Rosie Holt MP on Twitter, so it was fun to capture all the Tory madness of the Boris Johnson/Liz Truss/Rishi Sunak years. Its a pretty good summary of those major stories and Tory contradictions.
A fine satire, in a time when the politics of the day is (almost) beyond satire.

[Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of feels like a weird historical artefact already.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the pre-book fake interview videos on social media. The book just seems strained and too long.

[Niamh Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely made me laugh out loud. Almost too believable as a Tory MP.

[Lena McLester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second best to seeing this hilarious woman live

[Riley McCarthy Brightwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concerning convincing satirical "Tory memoir". How bad must current politics be if I feel the need to recount the Boris, Truss, and Sunak years for humorous escapism.