The Sunday Times bestseller. 'A compulsively readable, carefully researched account of how a malignant combination of rightwing ideology, secretive money (much of it from the US) and weaponisation of social media have shaped contemporary British (and to a limited extent, European) politics... Remarkable' Observer, Book of the Week Democracy is in crisis, and unaccountable and untraceable flows of money are helping to destroy it. This is the story of how money, vested interests and digital skulduggery are eroding trust in democracy. Antiquated electoral laws are broken with impunity, secretive lobbying is bending our politics out of shape and Silicon Valley tech giants collude in selling out democracy. Politicians lie gleefully, making wild claims that can be shared instantly with millions on social media. Peter Geoghegan is a diligent, brilliant guide through the shadowy world of dark money and digital disinformation stretching from Westminster to Washington, and far beyond. Praise for Democracy for Sale: 'Thorough, gripping and vitally important' Oliver Bullough 'A brilliant description of the dark underbelly of modern democracy. Everyone should read it' Anne Applebaum 'A compelling and very readable story of the ongoing corruption of our government and therefore ourselves' Anthony Barnett 'As urgent as it is illuminating' Fintan O'Toole 'This urgent, vital book is essential reading for anyone who wants to make sense of our politics' Carole Cadwalladr 'This forensic and highly readable book shows how so many of our democratic processes have moved into the murky, unregulated spaces of globalisation and digital innovation' Peter Pomerantsev 'A call to arms for all those who value democracy' The Herald 'Geoghegan's words are those of someone who is prepared to keep fighting to defend and revitalise what shadows of democracy still remain'Scotsman

How undisclosed donations have infiltrated British politics, undermined public faith in democracy and fuelled the rise of populism across the West.

Brexit has been the most significant decision in modern British political history. It was a vote with repercussions around the world, not least in the United States. But the money and influence that delivered it was far from the grass-roots campaign often depicted in the media.

In Democracy for Sale, Peter Geoghegan documents the rise of dark money on both sides of the Atlantic, showing how it has circumvented – and corrupted – democratic mechanisms. We hear first-hand from the new generation of political communications gurus who have made data the most priceless commodity in politics, and step inside the transatlantic think tank world, where secret money can buy serious influence. We meet the whistle-blowers and transparency activists fighting against the increasing influence of money inpolitics, and see how easy it is to evade the cash-strapped regulators vainly struggling to police our democracy.