Cameron's Coup: How the Tories took Britain to the Brink

by Polly Toynbee, David Walker

*Includes updated post-election material.*The NHS devastated without so much as a by-your-leave; Gen Y hung out to dry; legal aid cut for the vulnerable; social housing on the brink of collapse . . .Cameron has been busy.Margaret Thatcher sold off the nationalised industries, her political heirs are intent on leaving an even more radical legacy - selling off the state itself.Written with their trademark precision and passion, Toynbee and Walker reveal how in four short years a party that failed to win a Commons majority has been devastatingly effective. Blending polls and statistics with moving human stories from Taunton to Teesside, Sydenham to Sheffield, Cameron's Coup shows the alarming reversal in decades of social progress. As Toynbee and Walker argue, it has been nothing short of a revolution. And they ask the pressing are these changes irrevocable?This is essential reading for anyone who cares about their country.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Polly Toynbee (born Mary Louisa Toynbee, 27 December 1946) is a British journalist and writer, and has been a columnist for The Guardian newspaper since 1998. She is a social democrat and broadly supports the Labour Party, while urging it in many areas to be more left-wing, though during the 2010 general election she urged a tactical vote in support of the Liberal Democrats in an attempt to bring about a Lab-Lib coalition in support of proportional representation. She was appointed President of the British Humanist Association in July 2007. In 2007 she was named 'Columnist of the Year' at the British Press Awards.

Reviews

[4cats · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read, if you are concerned as to what will happen with another 5 years of Tory rule, READ THIS BOOK and vote NO to them! The only care about the wealthy and conserving the wealthiest riches. They are greedy, heartless, uncaring, and anyone who supports them should hang their heads in shame.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting read, although as is the case with many books of this kind, opinion & ideology was masqueraded as fact using dubious statistics to make points.

Despite this, the book was very interesting and definitely showed the impact of the Tory-LibDem coalition of 2010-15... perhaps comparable in some ways to their predecessor in 1918?

Also eye-opening to have read this book in 2020, when so much has changed...

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read this out of sheer masochism and because I like Polly Toynbee very much -as I follow her on the Guardian-.

No one by now in this country can be oblivious to the deep and extensive harm that the Tories have inflicted to society over the past decade and a half, which will tragically still be felt for generations. No one perhaps except the members of the working class and poor twats who continue shooting themselves in the foot and keep voting Tory.
As a psychologist, I perpetually get flummoxed about voter intention according to socioeconomic status. How can people be so effing stupid? Yes, of course, it is a complex issue, but I simply cannot understand. Inequalities have become more profound than ever; the rich got richer, the poor poorer, and the smug as***le David Cameron the principal reason for Brexit. That would be his legacy, Britain is completely financially and morally bankrupt because of him and all across Europe we are laughing stock. Gosh how I hate the guy!
Main theme aside, and despite my agreeing with Polly close to 100% in everything she says, I can only give the book a 3/5 rating, because I did not think it was as well written as most of her columns.

Next to read about why Trump is a sociopath according to a bunch of psychiatrists. Happy reading to me!

[Luke Nichol · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very important read and I love Polly Toynbee as a Guardian columnist - the damage of cuts to the NHS, education, housing and the public sector have done none of us any favours. The middle section of the book becomes difficult with economics, but it is a very important read nonetheless.

[Ryan Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compellingly well-researched book that should be read by anyone interested in British politics,and it's most recent history. A very good read, full of harbingers, and quite frankly - for a book published in 2015, it's as though these guys had a time-machine! Highly recommended.

[Peter Timson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very valid.

[Sue Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read, especially as it was published in 2015, when Brexit was on the horizon but before Boris Johnson and the pandemic.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone brings their biases to a book like this one, including both of the authors and, indeed, myself.

Even taking that into account, though, the authors lay out in a very readable manner a long list of accusations against the government led by David Cameron and his friends, leading to a single conclusion: the entire thrust of the government's efforts has been to diminish the state to the benefit of the private sector, no matter what impact that might have upon ordinary people.

I'm quite sure that right-wing pundits will have their own responses to this thesis and these responses, too, deserve to be aired. This doesn't mean that the thesis itself isn't worth taking notice of.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that, in the approach to the 2015 elections, this deserves reading by anyone who purports to have any interest in politics. And that, really, means anyone who is a member of British society.

[Denis Southall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collation of the havoc wreaked on Britain and in particular it's public assets by this ideologically chaotic bunch of self interested, self serving, Tory free marketeers. Populist policy made on the hoof often, with little thought about how they would be implemented or the ramifications and little interest either. The power hungry Lib Dem's compromised and token gestures are mentioned throughout showing how utterly ineffectual they were. Found the writing a bit 'choppy' on occasion but very readable overall.

[Jane Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only 48 hours from voting in the General Election, this book brings together all the ghastly record of Cameron's government. All readers of Toynbee's columns will know how thorough and detailed her work is. The same is true of this book. Sadly, the only people who will read it are already on her side. But it provides ammunition for all of us trying to refute the lies of the Tory party and their chums.

[Jordan Phizacklea-Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavily reliant on statistics which lay bare the degradation caused by the coalition, but greater examination of how the preparations were laid down by the previous administration would be beneficial.

[The Contented · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit left wing? Maybe. But whatever your political leanings, you should read it because ...it's so readable. Even more relevant post-election than before.
I'd originally bought this as part of a buy one - get one half price offer.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone concerned about what five years of the Coalition has done, and what five years of unfettered, gleeful plundering and gutting of our state and economy is likely to do, to our society. 'Forensic' is an apt description - it's dense with facts and detail.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sets out all the reasons to fear another 5 years of David Cameron. Sadly we are now facing a government who will ruin the state even further, the future for a lot of ordinary people looks bleak. Polly Toynbee will have plenty more to write about. I wish more people had read this book.

[Gareth Griffiths]

If you enjoy being repeatedly hit on the head by a blunt object then this book is for you. I don't leave many books unfinished but in this case decided there are more enjoyable books to spend (or waste) my time reading.

[Ronnie Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This contains important material about the reality of Tory government in Britain and what the agenda really is, but I'm not sure what it is offering as an alternative. Also, just as a book, I didn't find it especially well-written.

[Ria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever get the feeling we're all doomed...?

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of evidence to substantiate Nye Bevan's characterisation of Tories as lower than vermin.

[Peter Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Important, but polemical and ultimately a bit tedious

[Below]

Good information and statistics detailing problems within the Tory/Lib Dem coalition government