10 great political books to read ahead of the General Election

Political reads to get your vote.

British Politics For Dummies Julian Knight and John Pattison, Wiley, £15.99 4/5

For those of us who don’t earn a living from politics, living through a General Election campaign can be like listening to a couple of Mongolian wrestlers discussing the finer points of their sport. In their own language.

Put any group of people with the same interest together in a room, and it won’t be long before they start using jargon and making references that leave the rest of us baffled.

So what do you do if all this discourse has got you interested in politics, if only you could understand what they were talking about?

British Politics For Dummies would be a good starting point.

Presented in the same plain-speaking style that has made the Dummies series such a success, it assumes no previous knowledge of the subject being covered.

It includes everything from how an MP is elected (and what they do once they have been) to the role of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet and from how local government functions to the role of the United Nations.

Issues such as the switch of power away from backbench MPs to Scottish and Welsh Devolution are all summarised, with pointers for those who want to go off and find out more.

Scattered throughout are panels on memorable moments and people in British political history, from the hacking scandal of 2012, to famous election moments such as Tony Blair celebrating to Things Can Only Get Better in 1997 or the Cameron/Clegg press conference in the Downing Street rose garden.

It never strays from the factual (don’t expect any views on a party’s policies or record), but there are some lighter passages.

You may not be surprised to learn MPs aren’t allowed to swear or accuse each other of lying, but did you know the list of insults which are forbidden includes coward, hooligan, git, traitor, warty and stool pigeon?

Another activity banned in the chamber of the House of Commons is drinking alcohol. Except for the Chancellor, when he is delivering the budget speech. No wonder he looked so pleased with himself!

It’s not a book for political geeks. If you want to know a particular party’s latest stance on Europe, how Nigel Farage turned Ukip’s fortunes around or which party leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond might do business with, this is not for you.

But if you have questions that seem too basic to ask anyone, or you want to fill in some gaps in your knowledge, this book will be a useful addition to your bookshelf or e-reader.

2015 General Election Iain Dale and Greg Callus, Biteback, £19.99 3/5

If you‘re political geek, then you may already have a copy of The Politicos Guide To The 2015 General Election.

If there’s a statistic about the election that’s not in here, it’s probably not worth knowing.

Full of expert predictions and packed with facts and figures you’ll be able to shout at the TV pundits you disagree with, secure in the knowledge you have all the relevant facts at your disposal.

A Guide For Voters David Torrance, Luath, £5.99 4/5

Whether you made up your mind before campaigning started, or have yet to decide, it’s clear a vote for almost any party could influence whether it’s Ed Milliband or David Cameron heading for Downing St.

Clear impartial and concise, this provides a good overview of the differences between the main parties, as well as what the various outcomes could mean come Friday morning.

Who Governs Britain? Anthony King, Pelican, £7.99 3/5

If politicians are to be believed, a vote for them means they’ll have the power to improve things.

King, a political scientist, argues our leaders promise more than they can deliver.

Power is now more dispersed. Politicians outside Westminster are more important, the civil service

less influential, and the likes of multinational corporations play a big part in influencing our economy.

The Establishment Owen Jones, Penguin, £8.99 3/5

You may not have heard of Owen Jones, but with 300,000 followers, he is ranked as one of the most influential political figures on Twitter.

Politicians may want us to believe they are in charge, but Jones argues they are just one element of “The Establishment”, a constantly changing collection of vested interests that includes big business, the City, and the judiciary.

Get It Together Zoe Williams, Hutchinson, £14.99 3/5

We all hope that by casting our vote in the right way, things will improve, but Willilams argues what’s needed is a new kind of politics.

This, she says, is a society that abolished slavery and child labour, brought in National Insurance and created the NHS.

How is it, she asks, that some people in full-time employment still worry about basics such as housing, food and warmth?

Five Year Mission Tim Bale, OUP, £10.99 3/5

As Labour Leader, Ed Miliband’s main task is to get his party re-elected after just one term in opposition.

So will he be able to convince the electorate he has learned from past mistakes, that he has the right character to be Prime Minister, and a vision for the future?

Tim Bale looks at Milliband’s five-year mission to persuade voters that Labour can be trusted to run the country again.

The Purple Revolution Nigel Farage, Biteback, £6.99 3/5

A year ago, Ukip were still being dismissed by many as a single-issue party whose chances were undermined by colourful supporters who kept putting their foot in it.

No longer. With two successful by-elections behind them, they could be among the power brokers if the election result is close.

The party’s charismatic leader tells the story of 12 months that transformed Ukip’s prospects.

The Churchill Factor Boris Johnson, Hodder, £25 4/5

It’s often claimed that, thanks to spin doctors and PR men, today’s politicians all look and sound alike not something anyone ever said about Winston Churchill.

Boris Johnson looks at one of the most important leaders of the 20th Century.

A man who, having experienced war first-hand, hated the destruction it caused, but focused all his energy on making sure Britain prevailed.

The Dream Shall Never Die Alex Salmond, Collins, £12.99 4/5

Though no longer First Minister, at 60, Alex Salmond is clearly going to be on the political scene for some time.

His Westminster opponents in particular may have to get used to seeing rather more of him.

Opponents as well supporters will be fascinated by this insider’s account of the campaign for Scottish independence which produced a nail-biting referendum last September.