The Conservative Party can lay convincing claim to being the world's most successful political party, not least because it is also one of the most adaptable, often appearing to do and say pretty much whatever it takes to win. But has it now taken things too far?
Since the UK voted to leave the EU back in 2016, the Tories have arguably done more than simply re-shape themselves: rather, they seem to have transformed themselves from a mainstream centre-right party into a counter-intuitive combination of radical right-wing populism, free market fundamentalism, and fiscal constraint that is arguably not only inherently unstable but also poses a threat to many of the norms of both liberal democracy and economic common sense.
In this compelling and persuasively argued book, Tim Bale, one of the country's foremost experts on contemporary British politics, takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the Conservatives' fortunes over the last decade. From the bombshell Brexit referendum, through to the chaotic premierships of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss, and all the way up to Rishi Sunak's rise to power, Bale tells the fascinating tale of a party that, in just a few short years, has gone from nervous breakdown to top of the world - and back again.

Tim Bale is Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London. He is the author of several books on British and European party politics, including The Conservative Party from Thatcher to Cameron, The British General Election of 2019, and The Modern British Party System. He has written for the Guardian, Observer, Telegraph, and Financial Times, as well as various online platforms. He regularly appears on radio and television in the UK and overseas to talk about politics and current affairs. Follow him on Twitter @ProfTimBale.

Acknowledgements
1: Going with the flow
2: May in her pomp (July 2016 - April 2017)
3: Hubris to nemesis (May - June 2017)
4. A bad hand played badly (June 2017 - June 2019)
5: Over before it began (June - July 2019)
6: Brexit achieved; Boris rampant (July - December 2019)
7: Pandemonium (January - December 2020)
8: Coming up for air (January - October 2021)
9: Things fall apart (October 2021 - April 2022)
10: The end of the road? (April - September 2022)
Postscript
Notes