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Left Out

The Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn

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Left Out

By: Gabriel Pogrund, Patrick Maguire
Narrated by: Matthew Spencer
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Left Out is the first full account of Labour's recent transformation and historic defeat.

The 2017 parliament began with Labour on the precipice of power and its left-most fringe - for so long alienated within its own party - closer to government than it had ever been. It ended with them even farther away than they started.

From the peak of Jeremy Corbyn's popularity and the shock hung parliament of 2017 to Labour's humbling in 2019 and the election of Keir Starmer, Left Out draws on unrivalled access throughout the party and to both leaders' inner circles to provide a blistering narrative exposé of the Labour Party during one of the most tumultuous and significant episodes in its history.

It reveals a party riven by factionalism and at war over ideology, then incapacitated by crisis and indecision. From the plotting of the break-away Independent Group to the inaction and despair over accusations of anti-Semitism, from complaints of sexual harassment and bullying to foiled coups and furious disagreements over Brexit, the listener is in the room as tempers fray and tensions boil over, as sworn enemies forge unlikely alliances and lifelong friendships are tested to breaking-point.

At the heart of the book is Corbyn himself, a man whose like had never been seen at the top of British politics - and is unlikely to ever be seen again. Heroised for his principles by some, derided as an idealist by others, the loyalty and hatred he inspired changed not only the party but the nation.

Intimately drawn and brilliantly told, Left Out is the revelatory inside account of how Labour became the party it is today and of the greatest experiment seen in British politics for a generation.

©2020 Gabriel Pogrund, Patrick Maguire (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Elections & Political Process Europe Great Britain Politics & Government Words, Language & Grammar World Writing & Publishing Liberalism
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Critic reviews

"A stunningly good book with jaw-dropping revelations on every page, Left Out is the ultimate inside story of how Jeremy Corbyn went from the brink of victory to one of the worst defeats in British political history. It is both a breath-taking work of political journalism and a gripping first draft of history that is unlikely ever to be bettered. Unquestionably the political book of the year." (Tim Shipman, author of All Out War)

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The story told by Pogrund and Maguire has elucidated a fascinating look at the behind the scenes of Corbyn’s time as Leader of the Opposition.

Though you might expect it to be heavily critical of the project, it was a reasonably fair look at the successes and failures of Corbyn’s leadership.

The actual performance itself was clear, had very few stumbles, and was delivered at a solid pace.

An insightful, fair account of the latter Corbyn Years

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A true eye-opening, compelling and balanced account of the ins&outs of the bizarre and often embarrassing leadership of Corbyn. A must-read for anyone interested in Labour and UK politics.

A well written insider's account.

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The authors deserve praise for a fair and balanced analysis of the failed Corbyn project and the characters that shaped it

Failed Project

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A really good and very even handed look into Labour and Corbyn, really enjoyed it

Fascinating!

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Fascinating and fair (possibly too fair) analysis of the Corbyn years, marred by a reader who struggles with the pronunciation of more complex vocabulary.

Good writing, but the reader has vocabulary issues

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