All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain's Political Class

All Out War chronicles the British EU referendum campaign of 2016 through insider accounts and extensive access to key players on both sides. The book covers the period from David Cameron's election victory through the referendum and its immediate aftermath. Times journalist Tim Shipman conducted over 500 interviews to reconstruct the strategic decisions, internal conflicts, and pivotal moments that shaped the Leave and Remain campaigns. The narrative tracks multiple concurrent storylines, from the Conservative Party's internal battles to the Labour opposition's stance on Europe. The behind-the-scenes reporting reveals previously undisclosed details about campaign financing, messaging strategies, and the personal dynamics between political rivals. Shipman documents cabinet meetings, private conversations, and the mechanical operations of both campaign headquarters. The book serves as both a historical record and an examination of how established political institutions can be challenged through populist movements and unconventional campaign tactics. The events depicted raise questions about political loyalty, democratic processes, and the intersection of truth and persuasion in modern campaigns.

Readers describe the book as a balanced, detailed account of the Brexit referendum campaign based on over 500 interviews. Reviews emphasize the behind-the-scenes access to key political figures and campaign strategists. Liked: - Clear explanations of complex political maneuvering - Fast-paced narrative style despite dense subject matter - Comprehensive coverage of both Leave and Remain camps - Includes previously unreported details and conversations Disliked: - Length (688 pages) can be overwhelming - Heavy focus on Conservative Party perspective - Some readers found early chapters slow - Assumes prior knowledge of UK political figures Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.7/5 (890+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (200+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Reads like a thriller but with meticulous sourcing" - Goodreads reviewer Critical comment: "Too much detail on internal Tory politics at expense of broader context" - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 Tim Shipman covered four Prime Ministers as Sunday Times Political Editor and had unprecedented access to key Brexit figures on both sides, conducting over 500 interviews for this book. 🔹 The book reveals that Michael Gove's wife, Sarah Vine, accidentally sent an email meant for her husband to a member of the public, exposing private strategy discussions about Boris Johnson's leadership bid. 🔹 Despite its focus on Brexit, the book gained praise from both Leave and Remain supporters for its balanced and detailed account of the referendum campaign. 🔹 Shipman documents how the Remain campaign's reliance on economic forecasts and expert opinions - dubbed "Project Fear" by opponents - ultimately backfired by alienating voters who felt talked down to. 🔹 The author reveals that David Cameron's team was so confident of victory that they had not prepared any contingency plans for a Leave win, contributing to the chaos that followed the referendum result.