ANNOUNCING THE INAUGURAL PADDY POWER AND TOTAL POLITICS POLITICAL BOOK AWARDS

Paddy Power and Total Politics are delighted to announce the launch of The Political Book Awards.

The awards have been set up to celebrate and reward excellence across all areas of political publishing and will become an annual event in the publishing calendar. The main Political Book of the Year award will carry a prize of £10,000, with further prizes up for grabs in the Debut Political Book of the Year and Young Political Writer of the Year categories.

Publisher of Total Politics magazine, Iain Dale, said: “It’s about time that excellent political writers were recognised, just as we recognise excellence in other fields like sport and journalism. These awards will offer new opportunities for debut and young political authors. It’s great to be part of something that acknowledges, contributes and will, we hope, enhance worthy political debate and commentary in this country.”

The awards cover a wide range of subjects within the political sphere, with prize money generously donated by Lord Ashcroft and sponsor Paddy Power. The winner of the Political Book of the Year will receive a cheque for £10,000. Winners of the Debut Political Book of the Year and Young Writer of the Year will each win £3,000. Other categories include Political Biography of the Year, Polemic of the Year, Political History Book of the Year, International Affairs Book of the Year, Political Process Book of the Year, Political Humour/Satire Book of the Year, Political Fiction Book of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award in Political Literature.

The judging panels will be made up of leading political figures including Adam Boulton, Alastair Campbell, Andrew Neil, Ann Widdecombe, Charles Clarke, Tristram Hunt, Rory Stewart, Chris Mullin, Dame Ann Leslie, Mary Beard and Jacqui Smith.

Patrick Kennedy, CEO of Paddy Power, said: “The insight, skill and wit of political authors should be celebrated, which is why we’re delighted to be announcing the launch of the Political Book Awards. We were one of the first bookmakers to offer betting based on the political landscape and have enjoyed speculating on both the domestic and international scene ever since. Our aim in this area has always been to spark debate and get people talking, as well as bring a bit of fun to affairs of state, so we hope that the Paddy Power and Total Politics Political Book Awards will continue to do just that.”    

From Friday 28 September, publishers will be invited to submit entries via the awards website www.politicalbookawards.com

The awards ceremony, which will be attended by the cream of the political and literary worlds, will take place on 6 February 2013 at the BFI IMAX cinema.

For more information please contact: katy.scholes@totalpolitics.com or call on 02070911264.  

Editor’s note 
The awards will be judged by the following:
 
Political Book of the Year Keith Simpson MP, Adam Boulton, Andrew Neil, Michael Ashcroft, Carolyn Quinn, Chris Mullin, Mary Beard.  

Debut Political Book of the Year Jacqui Smith, Chris Wimpress, Lance Price.  

Young Writer of the Year To be judged by the Total Politics Awards Committee.  

Political Biography of the Year Ann Widdecombe, Chris Bryant, Rob Wilson, Simon Walters.  

Polemic of the Year Douglas Murray, Heather Brooke, John Rentoul, Tony McNulty.  

Political History Book of the Year Brian Brivati, Duncan Brack, Lord Lexden, Tristram Hunt, Michael Ashcroft, Keith Simpson.  

International Affairs Book of the Year Dame Ann Leslie, Catherine Mayer, Rory Stewart, Sir Menzies Campbell, Niall Paterson.  

Political Process Book of the Year Philip Cowley, Charles Clarke, Steve Richards, Michael Crick.  

Political Humour/Satire Book of the Year Martin Rowson, Quentin Letts, Steve Nallon.  

Political Fiction Book of the Year Alastair Campbell, Deborah Mattinson, Edwina Currie, Jackie Ashley, Zoe Williams  

Lifetime Achievement Award in Political Literature. To be judged by the Total Politics Awards Committee.  

For more information visit www.politicalbookawards.com  

Follow the Political Book Awards on twitter: @PolBookAwards