Sir Anthony Seldon and Tom Egerton Sunak, Starmer and the Crisis of British Politics

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How did the Conservatives suffer their worst electoral defeat in modern history, and why did Keir Starmer's Labour government subsequently run into such extraordinary difficulties?Sir Anthony Seldon, one of Britain's foremost contemporary political historians, joins Lewes-based writer and political commentator Tom Egerton to discuss their acclaimed book Sunak at 10: The Last Conservative Prime Minister? and their forthcoming Starmer at 10: The Unfulfilled Premiership.Drawing on extensive interviews with ministers, advisers and senior figures at the heart of government, they offer a fascinating insider's account of two troubled premierships. Was Rishi Sunak doomed by the chaos he inherited from Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, or did his own shortcomings contribute to the Conservatives' collapse? And how did Keir Starmer, elected with a commanding parliamentary majority, find himself facing a crisis of his own?In this timely conversation, Seldon and Egerton examine the personalities, rivalries, misjudgements and political forces that have transformed British politics, asking what the experiences of Sunak and Starmer reveal about the increasingly difficult business of governing Britain.Sir Anthony Seldon is one of Britain's leading contemporary historians, political commentators and authors. A former Master of Wellington College and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, he has written or edited more than 50 books, including authoritative accounts of successive British prime ministers. He has served as honorary historical adviser to 10 Downing Street and is widely regarded as one of the foremost chroniclers of modern British political history.Tom Egerton is a Lewes-based political writer and historian who has collaborated extensively with Sir Anthony Seldon on contemporary British politics. He is co-author of Sunak at 10 and the forthcoming Starmer at 10, which is scheduled for publication in September 2027.A Q&A Session will follow.