Dirty Politics, Dirty Times

In the summer of 1999, Michael Ashcroft (now Lord Ashcroft) became the subject of concerted attacks aimed at unseating him as Treasurer of the Conservative Party. His attackers were The Times newspaper and the New Labour Government of Tony Blair.

The ultimate target was William Hague (now Lord Hague), whose leadership would be destabilised and the finances of his party undermined had his Treasurer been forced from office.

This book is the personal account of Lord Ashcroft's six-year fight, first to resist a succession of wholly unjustified attacks, then to clear his damaged name and, finally, to expose the dirty tricks used against him – some of them even exploiting the fruits of criminal acts.

Wapping and New Labour were to discover that they had taken on a formidable, resourceful and determined opponent, one who would go on to reveal unacceptable aspects of both national newspaper journalism and British politics. This book sheds new light on the extraordinary life of an essentially private man. Lord Ashcroft, who remains as committed as ever to the Conservative Party and its values, also reveals how he helped the party through one of the most troubled periods in its history.

The book, however, ends on a positive note – with Lord Ashcroft, at eighty years old, full of energy and vigour, and still embracing his work and his passions. These include his varied business interests, his charitable work, his writing, his polling, championing bravery and supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.