Guilty Men

Guilty Men examines Britain's catastrophic decision to join the European Economic Community in 1973, tracing the actions and motivations of key political figures involved. The book presents evidence from declassified government documents and insider accounts to reconstruct this pivotal moment in British history. Peter Oborne investigates the roles of Edward Heath, Geoffrey Rippon, and other prominent Conservative politicians who championed Britain's EEC membership. He analyzes the parliamentary debates, media coverage, and behind-the-scenes negotiations that shaped public opinion and policy during this period. The narrative focuses on how these politicians presented their case to the British public and Parliament, while also exploring what information they possessed about the true implications of EEC membership. The book draws parallels between this historical moment and Britain's later relationship with the European Union. The work raises fundamental questions about political accountability, democratic representation, and the responsibilities of leadership during moments of national transformation. Through this historical analysis, Oborne offers insights into the nature of power and decision-making at the highest levels of British government.

Readers appreciate Oborne's detailed investigation of UK government failures during the Iraq War era. Many note the book's thorough documentation and clear timeline of events leading up to the conflict. Multiple reviewers highlight the analysis of Tony Blair's decision-making and relationship with George W. Bush. Readers value: - Comprehensive research and source citations - Focus on specific individuals' roles and choices - Clear explanation of complex political relationships Common criticisms: - Writing can be dense and academic - Some repetition of points - Perceived political bias in certain sections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (47 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.2/5 (28 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Documents what many suspected but couldn't prove" - Amazon reviewer "Too focused on Blair, neglects other key players" - Goodreads user "Makes a complex subject digestible" - Amazon UK review

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🔷 Peter Oborne resigned from his position as chief political commentator at The Daily Telegraph in 2015, citing concerns about the paper's coverage of HSBC and its influence on editorial decisions. 🔷 "Guilty Men" follows in the tradition of the famous 1940 polemic of the same name, which condemned the pre-war appeasement of Nazi Germany - but Oborne's version focuses on those who advocated for Brexit. 🔷 The book was published just 28 days after the 2016 Brexit referendum, making it one of the first detailed examinations of the campaign and its key players. 🔷 Despite being a traditional conservative writer, Oborne later publicly changed his position on Brexit, writing in 2019 that he had been wrong and that Brexit had turned into a "disaster." 🔷 The original "Guilty Men" (1940) was written in just four days by three journalists using the pseudonym "Cato," and became one of the most influential British political books of the 20th century.