Butler to the World - How Britain Helps the World's Worst People Launder Money, Commit Crimes, and Get Away with Anything

The Suez Crisis of 1956 was the nadir of Britain's twentieth century, the moment when the once-superpower was bullied into retreat. "Great Britain has lost an empire and not yet found a role," said Dean Acherson, a former US secretary of state. Acheson's line has entered into the canon of great quotations: but it was wrong. Britain had already found a role. The leaders of the world just hadn't noticed it yet. Butler to the World reveals how Britain came to assume its role as the center of the offshore economy. Written polemically, but studded with witty references to the butlers of popular fiction, it demonstrates how so many elements of modern Britain have been put at the service of the world's oligarchs. The Biden administration is putting corruption at the heart of its foreign policy, and that means it needs to confront Britain's role as the foremost enabler of financial crime and ill behavior. This book lays bare how London has deliberately undercut U.S. regulations for decades, and calls into question the extent to which Britain can be considered a reliable ally. With a new introduction on the Ukraine crisis LONGLISTED FOR THE FINANCIAL TIMES BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 A TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 A DAILY MAIL BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS BOOK OF 2022 A DAILY MIRROR BEST NON-FICTION BOOK OF 2022 A SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 PRESENTER OF THE BBC RADIO 4 SERIES 'HOW TO STEAL A TRILLION' A WATERSTONES BEST POLITICS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 AN IRISH TIMES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 A MANAGEMENT TODAY BEST LEADERSHIP BOOK OF 2022 How did Britain become the servant of the world's most powerful and corrupt men? From accepting multi-million pound tips from Russian oligarchs, to the offshore tax havens, meet Butler Britain... In his Sunday Times-bestselling expose, Oliver Bullough reveals how the UK took up its position at the elbow of the worst people on Earth: the oligarchs, kleptocrats and gangsters. Though the UK prides itself on values of fair play and the rule of law, few countries do more to frustrate global anti-corruption efforts. From the murky origins of tax havens and gambling centres in the British Virgin Islands and Gibraltar to the influence of oligarchs in the British establishment, Butler to the World is the story of how we became a nation of Jeeveses - and how it doesn't have to be this way. "It was once said that Britain had lost an empire and not yet found a role. By the late 1950s, it had already found its purpose. It even had the costume. The rest of the world just hadn't noticed yet. Butler to the World reveals how the UK smoothly took up its position at the elbow of the worst people on Earth: the oligarchs, kleptocrats and gangsters. Britain pride ourselves on values of fair play and the rule of law, but few countries do more to frustrate global anti-corruption efforts. Join investigative journalist Oliver Bullough for a visit below stairs in the modern British economy. Marvel at the chicanery of our financial services. Discover why the UK is very much at home to purveyors of the most ruinous addictions. And find out what our celebrated legal code really stands for. Britain has become a nation of Jeeveses, snobbish enablers for rich halfwits of considerably less charm than Bertie Wooster. It doesn't have to be that way"--Publisher's description The Suez Crisis Of 1956 Was Britain's Twentieth-century Nadir, The Moment When The Once Superpower Was Bullied Into Retreat. In The Immortal Words Of Former Us Secretary Of State Dean Acheson, 'britain Has Lost An Empire And Not Yet Found A Role.' But The Funny Thing Was, Britain Had Already Found A Role. It Even Had The Costume. The Leaders Of The World Just Hadn't Noticed It Yet. Butler To The World Reveals How The Uk Took Up Its Position At The Elbow Of The Worst People On Earth: The Oligarchs, Kleptocrats And Gangsters. We Pride Ourselves On Values Of Fair Play And The Rule Of Law, But Few Countries Do More To Frustrate Global Anti-corruption Efforts. We Are Now A Nation Of Jeeveses, Snobbish Enablers For Rich Halfwits Of Considerably Less Charm Than Bertie Wooster. It Doesn't Have To Be That Way. Bestselling author Oliver Bullough reveals the scandalous reality of Britain's new position in the world.