Debbie Kilroy: Members Behaving Badly: A History of Britain in 52 Parliamentary Rogues - Part of Summer Derby Book Festival 2026

Description

This event will be filmed and made available as a digital recording after the Festival. Available for purchase here.

An alternative history of Britain through the scandalous stories of 52 MPs who behaved very badly indeed…

Over the centuries, the House of Commons has been full of MPs standing up against tyranny; remarkable people doing remarkable things for the good of all. Yet there have been just as many cheats and liars who have played games, played the markets and played the people who put their trust in them.

Members Behaving Badly tells the story of our nation from 1603 to 1945 through 52 of these parliamentary villains: abusers, kidnappers and murderers, violent men doing violent deeds, often using parliament as a front and excuse. These are the MPs who made history – for all the wrong reasons.

There’s rake and poet Sir Charles Sedley, whose illicit partying while sozzled and stark naked on a tavern balcony caused a sensation even in Restoration London; the stock-jobbing, flip-flopping chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Townshend, who proposed taxes that sparked a revolution; David Lloyd George, Britain’s saviour during the First World War, but whose avarice, corruption and abuse of honours ruined his political party forever; and many more.

Debbie will be in conversation with Professor Keith McLay, Chair of Derby Book Festival and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby.

‘Funny, eye-opening and jaw-dropping.’ CHARLIE HIGSON

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