Dirty Politics, Dirty Times

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.

Updated 2026 edition,including never-before-seen photos and new epilogue. In the summer of 1999,Michael Ashcroft (now Lord Ashcroft) became the subject of concerted attacksaimed at unseating him as Treasurer of the Conservative Party. His attackerswere The Times newspaper and the New Labour Government of Tony Blair. The ultimate target wasWilliam Hague (now Lord Hague), whose leadership would be destabilised and thefinances of his party undermined had his Treasurer been forced from office. This book is the personalaccount of Lord Ashcroft's six-year fight, first to resist a succession ofwholly unjustified attacks, then to clear his damaged name and, finally, toexpose the dirty tricks used against him - some of them even exploiting thefruits of criminal acts. Wapping and New Labourwere to discover that they had taken on a formidable, resourceful anddetermined opponent, one who would go on to reveal unacceptable aspects of bothnational newspaper journalism and British politics. This book sheds new lighton the extraordinary life of an essentially private man. Lord Ashcroft, whoremains as committed as ever to the Conservative Party and its values, alsoreveals how he helped the party through one of the most troubled periods in itshistory. The book, however, endson a positive note - with Lord Ashcroft, at eighty years old, full of energyand vigour, and still embracing his work and his passions. These include hisvaried business interests, his charitable work, his writing, his polling,championing bravery and supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.