author talk: Held In Contempt by Hannah White
Saturday 14th May
in the shop - 3pm - author talk - free entry
Please register via Eventbrite if you wish to attend so we know how many people to expect.
As part of Feminist Book Fortnight, join Hannah White in the shop to hear a perceptive critique of the shortcomings of the House of Commons.
From attending parties during the Covid-19 lockdown to taking payment for lobbying, MPs undermine their credibility by acting as if the rules they set for others should not apply to them. Still far from representative of the country they govern from the ancient and crumbling Palace of Westminster, MPs appear detached from the lives led by their constituents - conducting their business according to rules and procedures that have become too complex for many of them to understand.
In this timely book, Hannah White offers a perceptive critique of the shortcomings of the House of Commons, arguing that the reputation of the Commons is in a downward spiral - compounded by government attempts to side-line parliament during Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. At a time of populist challenge to representative democracy, this book is an essential rallying cry - for MPs to reform the House of Commons - equipping it to fulfil its important role as a cornerstone of our democracy - or see it fade into irrelevance.
Hannah White is the Deputy Director of the London-based think tank the Institute for Government. She is a regular commentator on Westminster and Whitehall for radio and television in the UK and internationally, and writes for publications including The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph and Prospect. She received an OBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the Constitution.
Please register via Eventbrite for instructions to join and to help us with book ordering and to manage numbers on the shop floor. We are operating with Covid caution here at October Books, so please respect your fellow attendees by maintaining some distance. We are requesting that people attending events/gatherings in the shop please wear a face covering - to ensure all people feel safe. This is a free entry event, but if you'd like to sling October Books a donation, please do.
If you would like to reserve a copy of ‘Held In Contempt’ to collect from the shop please email us at info@octoberbooks.org
If you would like to order a copy for delivery to your door, you can do so here.
Find out more about Hannah White on these social channels - Twitter: @drhannahwhite
Find out more about Feminist Book Fortnight - Twitter: @FeministBk22 FB: @feministbookfortnight
