The Fall of Boris Johnson

The Award-Winning, Explosive Account of the PM's Final Days

By: Sebastian Payne

Narrated by: Sebastian Payne

The Fall of Boris Johnson is the explosive inside account of how a prime minister lost his hold on power. Written and read by Sebastian Payne, Director of Onward and former Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times.

Winner at the 2022 Parlimentary Book Awards
A New Statesman, The Times, Daily Mail and FT Book of the Year
'Revelatory' - The Daily Telegraph
'Delicious detail' - The Times

Boris Johnson was touted as the saviour of the country and the Conservative Party, obtaining a huge commons majority and finally 'getting Brexit done'. But, within three short years, he was deposed in disgrace and left the country in crisis.

Sebastian Payne tells the essential behind-the-scenes story, charting the series of scandals that felled Johnson: from the blocked suspension of Owen Paterson, through partygate and the final death blow: the Chris Pincher allegations. This is the full narrative of the betrayals, rivalries and resignations that resulted in the dramatic Conservative coup – and set in motion those events that saw the party sink to catastrophic new lows.

With unparalleled access to those who were in the room when key decisions were made, Payne tells of the miscalculations and mistakes that led to Boris Johnson’s downfall. This is a gripping and timely look at how power is gained, wielded and lost in Britain today.

'Genuinely page-turning' - Andrew Marr
'Entertaining and illuminating' - Tim Shipman

Critic reviews

An entertaining and illuminating fly on the wall romp through Boris Johnson's final nine months, where the fly, Seb Payne, must frequently have thought he was on hallucinogens. It's more fun than a Downing Street party and contains a suitcase full of news. (Tim Shipman)

A timely reminder of the fine art of defenestration written by one of Fleet Street’s most trusted insiders. Delicious detail, break-neck pace and a curiosity which is both urgent yet empathetic. We are lucky to have Sebastian Payne. One of the finest of his generation. (Emily Maitlis)

A genuinely page turning, gripping account of some of the most extraordinary days in modern British history. Very well sourced, this is a book historians will be turning to for a long time to come. The fall of emperors often seems a more interesting theme than their rise; Seb Payne triumphantly confirms it. (Andrew Marr)

Brilliant, a devastating piece of contemporary history and I’d recommend anyone with a remote interest in politics reads it. However bad you thought the Boris Johnson denouement was, Payne shows that it was much worse. (Fraser Nelson)

Any Tory MP tempted by a Johnson comeback should be prescribed this book by their GP (The Times, A Political Book of the Year)

Payne writes with great skill . . . borders on the best of Tom Sharpe . . . revelatory

I urge you to read (Nick Cohen)

Revealing stories . . . delicious detail

Seasoned Westminster commentator Payne brilliantly, breathlessly and low-blow by low-blow captures the car crash at Downing Street (Daily Mail, A Book of the Year)

Has all the pace, intrigue, complexity and dirt worthy of the finest Netflix drama

Payne tells the inside story, charting the crescendo of scandals that led to the resignation of a prime minister

Great research. Should have a different narrator.

Really enjoyable and well researched “insider book” for political junkies. The author is clearly clued in to the important parties and his insight and interpretation of events is prescient. But, the author should not have narrated. Just doesn’t have the “voice” for narration.