‘Refreshingly free from jargon, self-delusion or political partisanship, if you want to know why everything seems to be going wrong for the West, you must read this book.’

Tony Abbott, former Prime Minister of Australia

‘A hopeful and compelling case for a modern state and revitalized communities, recognizing that markets alone will not create a fair and prosperous society. Essential reading across the spectrum.’

Claire Ainsley, Executive Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and author of The New Working Class: How to Win Hearts, Minds and Votes

‘This is an important attempt to chart a way forward for the Conservative Party by an author who has been at the heart of government. Nick Timothy seeks to do for the Conservative Party what Anthony Crosland tried to do many years ago for the Labour Party. I hope that he is more successful.’

Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government, King’s College, London

‘This is an essential book for anyone interested in understanding the forces driving this age of upheaval. It is a book about political power and the power of politics to effect lasting change. And it boldly explains why liberals keep getting it wrong.’

Jason Cowley, Editor of The New Statesman

‘Nick Timothy has long been one of the most imaginative and important writers on the nature and future of conservatism. But this superb book should be read by anyone with an interest in our changing world, the political response to it, and the path forward from an era of turmoil.’

Matthew d’Ancona, Editor and Partner, Tortoise Media

‘There is much in this book I don’t agree with and much I do, but there wasn’t a page I didn’t find absorbing and challenging. I find Nick Timothy one of the most interesting modern Conservative thinkers and he has written a really interesting, important book which demands to be read.’

Daniel Finkelstein, Conservative peer and Times columnist

‘Where does the anger come from? Should capitalism be tamed? Did liberal reform over-reach? Nick Timothy, reflecting in the calm after the storm of office, has produced an analysis that is essential reading, whether you’re from the right or the left, or simply a “neutral” who is trying to understand our baffling times.’

Gary Gibbon, Political Editor, Channel Four News

‘Nick Timothy is one of the few thinkers on the right who understands the dangers of untrammelled free-markets and the value of community. His ideas deserve a hearing from socialists as well as conservatives.’

Maurice Glasman, Labour peer and founder of Blue Labour

‘Nick Timothy was briefly at the centre of power under Theresa May but this book could be more influential than his time in hands-on politics. He has broken with the old political “packages” and crystallized a new centre of British politics, which combines small-c conservative common sense on many of the big social and cultural issues with a sense of economic injustice, and the failings of contemporary capitalism, borrowed from the best traditions of the centre-left.’

David Goodhart, author of The Road to Somewhere

‘Nick Timothy is Britain’s leading conservative thinker if one’s measure is a feel for real people rather than ease with arid theorizing. That this book sets out a trenchant yet sophisticated case for conservatism should come as no surprise. Nor should its stress on what is politically deliverable. But what is most striking is that it is also a serious attempt to find ways of making modern liberalism workable – and rescue it from itself.’

Paul Goodman, Editor of Conservative Home

‘Nick Timothy is a brilliant analyst of our present discontents. His insights are sharp, his writing is compelling and his arguments are powerful. He knows the problems with our politics and takes no prisoners on his quest to put them right.’

Michael Gove MP

‘Nick Timothy has given us a powerful critique of the simplistic liberal ideology that has ruled the right and the left for a generation or more. Analysing the destabilizing effects of unchecked free markets and an exclusive concern with individual freedom, he exposes the insecurities that have led to the dangerous rise of populism. Anyone who worries about the disordered state of politics today will profit from reading this hard-hitting book.’

Professor John Gray, author and philosopher

‘Nick Timothy has written a clear, timely and thought-provoking book, providing a persuasive analysis of how the liberal consensus has lost popular support. Arguing that conservatism should always be focused on how we relate to each other, he points out that its adherents cannot be relaxed about the decline of community or the current extent of inequality. His recommendations will be important for political leaders and thinkers seeking a way forward that is neither veering towards populism nor doomed to be unpopular.’

William Hague, Conservative peer and former Conservative Party Leader

‘Nick Timothy is that rare breed of politico, prophet and philosopher. After masterfully explaining what went wrong, he expertly lays out a new roadmap of how to stop the destruction of our culture and nation. To read this book is to feel convinced that Britain can, once again, lead the Western world back to sanity.’

Ed Husain, author of The House of Islam: A Global History

‘The Conservative Party may now be master of all it surveys, but its obsession with Brexit has denuded it of a consistent and workable political economy – which certainly, as Nick Timothy argues, is not going to lie in reheating some combination of austerity and Thatcherism. In a The State We’re In for the political right that looks unflinchingly at our ills, he sets out a reforming economic and social programme which may chime with Boris Johnson more than the consensus expects – a timely and must-read contribution to the national debate.’

Will Hutton, Principal of Hertford College, Oxford, author of The State We’re In and Observer columnist

‘Nick Timothy’s new book harnesses his unique combination of intellectual depth and practical policy experience to offer a bold and original diagnosis of the ills that bedevil today’s polarized Western societies. He introduces the key idea of the “liberal ratchet”, in which today’s “meritocratic” elite seeks to untether itself from rooted majorities, working through institutions shielded from the electorate – courts, universities, agencies, parts of the media – to advance a universalist vision. Intellectuals are generally drawn to the individualisms of left and right, while their electorates yearn in vain for stability and community. Blending centre-left economics and small-‘c’ conservatism in culture, Timothy’s new book speaks to today’s forgotten majorities.’

Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics at Birkbeck College, University of London, and author of Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities

‘People on the left rarely read anything written by conservatives. They should make an exception for Nick Timothy’s book. If they are smart it will make them think. If they are really smart they may be surprised at how much of it they agree with.’

Martin Kettle, Guardian columnist

‘Readers on the right may savour Nick Timothy’s savage take down of the political tribe he brands the “ultra-liberal” – the group he blames for many of the country’s ills. What’s more timely though is what he puts forward as an alternative. The label “One Nation Conservative” is all the rage in SW1, but even to many in Westminster, what it means in practice is still something of a mystery. In an extremely readable way, with the benefit of his experience and agony in government, Timothy defines what that mantra might mean for Conservative policy, and all of our real lives in the 21st century.’

Laura Kuenssberg, BBC Political Editor

‘Nick Timothy has shed a bright light on the crisis facing liberal democracy. Without flinching from hard truths, he offers persuasive diagnoses and plausible prescriptions, where others offer only vitriol and venom. This is a must-read for those struggling to understand this era on both sides of the Atlantic.’

Yuval Levin, author of The Fractured Republic

‘Caught between libertarian economics and social liberalism, contemporary conservatism is in need of a fundamental rethink to address economic and cultural insecurity. Nick Timothy’s brilliant book combines a compelling critique of ultra-liberalism with a thoughtful restatement of One Nation Conservatism that can help to build a majority politics anchored in institutions enabling people to pursue the good life. This is a vital contribution to public political debate in Britain and beyond.’

Professor Adrian Pabst, co-author of The Politics of Virtue: Post-Liberalism and the Human Future

‘Nick Timothy is one of Britain’s most original conservative thinkers. His new book, informed by a near-decade of experience at the heart of government, draws on meticulously researched and well-presented data to examine the complex and chronic maladies of affluent liberal democracies. A must-read for anyone seeking to better understand the deep roots of Brexit and other contemporary political upheavals across the West.’

Bojan Pancevski, Germany Correspondent for The Wall Street Journal

‘In recent years, British politics has blundered into a state of permanent crisis, whose roots run deep. And Nick Timothy didn’t just have a front-row seat – he was on the stage. This book blends an insider account with years of thinking about how we got here and where we might go.’

Amol Rajan, BBC Media Editor

‘Nick Timothy is the genuine Conservative modernizer, forensically challenging fashionable “ultra liberal” orthodoxies and putting the case for a more active state. This is both a gripping read and a route map towards an urgently needed One Nation Conservatism.’

Steve Richards, writer and broadcaster

‘Much of the writing of political philosophy has been done by those who’ve never had to muddy their preconceptions with the grime of power and office. Timothy is unusual in that he combines a ferociously penetrating intellect with a period as a particularly influential chief of staff to the Prime Minister. The resulting book thus has particular authority. Like much of the best political philosophy over the centuries, it is written by someone with understanding.’

Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, historian and author

‘Combining philosophical insights with a wealth of policy experience, Nick Timothy offers a powerful critique of our current political malaise as rooted in the excesses of a distorted liberalism and offers a timely reminder of the intellectual and practical resources of a One Nation Conservatism. Those who want to understand where we are, how we got here, and what a future progressive conservative agenda should look like, will find this book a thought-provoking and rewarding read.’

Dr Matt Sleat, author of Liberal Realism: A Realist Theory of Liberal Politics

‘The greatest threat to liberal democracies is when values and principles are neither articulated nor contested. This is a problem for the left and the right. Nick Timothy’s book outlines a way forward for the conservatives, but also charts a path for restoring trust which transcends party politics.’

Gisela Stuart, former Labour MP

‘True to form, Nick Timothy offers his readers an urgent critique of the limits of excessive liberalism that cuts to the heart of our broken political settlement. His ideas are incisive and radical – they should be listened to by anyone who wants to restore trust and sense to government.’

Will Tanner, Director of centre-right think tank Onward

‘Across the Western world democratic states face mounting problems. Old identities dissolve. Disillusion increases. Here, Brexit is a body blow to old party loyalties and has created a new divide. Nick Timothy, both insider and analyst, has written a mordant dissection of the destructive ultra-liberalism that lies at the root of the problem with its “twin traps of impractical individualism and unrealistic universalism”. He argues that a modern One Nation Conservatism is the practical way of repairing society. Brexiteers have put their faith in a rejuvenated nation state alive to the needs of all citizens. This tract for the times provides an ambitious agenda.’

Robert Tombs, Professor Emeritus of French History, Cambridge University

‘A searingly honest and compelling account of an era-defining period of modern British political history. Nick Timothy’s powerfully insightful re-evaluation of what it means to be conservative should be a must-read for anyone wanting to make sense of the failure of liberalism, and the future of centre-right thinking.’

Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor, Daily Telegraph

‘This is a timely and thought-provoking book. Nick Timothy argues that the key question in politics today should not be whether the market or the state can do a better job but how we can reconcile both with community. For those of us who believe that strong communities are the key to our future happiness and prosperity, this book is a powerful call to action, by someone who has thought deeply about the challenges we face, during and since he worked in Number Ten.’

Tom Tugendhat, MP

‘Conservatism is most real and interesting when it confronts the trade-offs between individual freedom and civic obligation, dynamism and rootedness, and seeks to reconcile them. This is why this is an important book on the future of conservatism and indeed the future of our country.’

David Willetts, Conservative peer and author

‘This brilliant book makes a compelling and novel argument about the origins of the crises experienced in Britain and other liberal democracies. Its philosophical analysis is backed by robust empirical research, and its vision of a new conservatism is backed by creative new policy suggestions. Whether you agree with all of those suggestions or not, this is a must-read contribution to the debate that is raging all the way across the West.’

Gavin Williamson, MP

‘The recent Conservative election victory is a complete vindication of the Nick Timothy approach. This book should be required reading for the new government on how to improve the lives of their new voters – and for the Labour Party to understand their seismic loss.’

Rachel Wolf, Partner at Public First and author of Boris Johnson’s 2019 general election manifesto

‘This book is an absolute must-read. It’s both thorough and challenging. Inevitably there will be elements you’ll disagree with but there are many others that are truly enlightening. The bottom line is that this is a vital contribution to a must-have debate.’

Sir Simon Woolley, crossbench peer and director of Operation Black Vote

Many people have contributed in different ways to the production of this book. Any errors, needless to say, are my own. But I want to thank the friends and colleagues who have helped me along the way. I owe a debt of obligation to my publishers, Polity Press, and in particular to my editor, Dr George Owers, whose suggestions were indispensable. I owe an equal debt to Wadham College, Oxford, where between 2018 and 2019 I was a Keeley Visiting Fellow. In particular, I am grateful to the Warden, Lord Macdonald of River Glaven, for awarding me the Fellowship, and to Lord Wood of Anfield, who proposed me to the College. I am grateful, too, to Dr Paul Martin and Dr Tom Sinclair for their wise advice and support.

I want to thank Chris Evans, my editor at The Daily Telegraph, and Tom Welsh, the newspaper’s insightful comment editor. I should also thank Tony Gallagher, the editor of The Sun, for whom I wrote between 2017 and 2019. It has been a privilege to write about many of the issues covered in this book in their magnificent newspapers. I am thankful to Matthew Taylor, who made me a Fellow of the RSA, which often provided me with a calm and quiet workspace in the middle of London. I should also thank the University of Sheffield, where I am a Visiting Professor, and in particular Professor Andrew Hindmoor and the brilliant Dr Matt Sleat.

Matt has been a wise counsellor throughout, as have Professor John Gray and Professor Vernon Bogdanor. Other friends and colleagues to whom I owe a particular debt for their thoughts and advice include Claire Ainsley, John Bowers, Matthew d’Ancona, Mike Flower, David Goodhart, Paul Goodman, Michael Gove, Tom Greeves, Ygal el Harrar, James Johnson, Professor Eric Kaufmann, Hans Kundnani, Baroness Meyer of Nine Elms, Sir Christopher Meyer, Rick Nye, Lord O’Shaughnessy of Maidenhead, Professor Adrian Pabst, Bojan Pancevski, Nick Pickles, Amol Rajan, Manveen Rana, Russell Rook, Gisela Stuart, Will Tanner, Niva Thiruchelvam, Nick Webb, Rachel Wolf, Sir Simon Woolley and my brother, John Timothy. It goes without saying that not everybody listed here agrees with everything I argue in the book.

In particular, I am grateful to Rick Nye for allowing me to reproduce the Populus ‘Clockface’ research in chapter 3. Nick Webb went far beyond the call of duty – especially given his own liberal beliefs – with his numerous comments and improvements. Adam Brown – my old friend ‘Stumpy’ – put me up for many Oxford nights and never hesitated to get the drinks in. And, of course, there is Martina, who advised and supported me through several draft texts and hundreds of conversations and email exchanges. It is to Martina, and to the whole of my family, that I dedicate this book.

‘Two nations [of rich and poor]; between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are as ignorant of each other’s habits, thoughts, and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones, or inhabitants of different planets; who are formed by a different breeding, are fed by a different food, are ordered by different manners, and are not governed by the same laws.’

– Benjamin Disraeli, 1845

‘We stand for the union of those two nations of which Disraeli spoke two generations ago: union … to make one nation of our own people which, if secured, nothing else matters in the world.’

– Stanley Baldwin, 1924

‘We now speak as a one nation Conservative Party literally for everyone from Woking to Workington, from Kensington … to Clwyd South, from Surrey Heath to Sedgefield, from Wimbledon to Wolverhampton.’

– Boris Johnson, 2019