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Brought to you by Penguin

On 26 March 2020 a new law appeared In 11 pages it locked down tens of millions of people confined us to our homes banned socialising closed shops gyms pubs places of worship It restricted our freedoms more than any other law in history justified by the rapid spread of a deadly new virus

You might have expected such a law to be fiercely debated in Parliament But it wasnt debated at all A state of emergency was declared meaning the law came into force the moment it was signed The state of emergency lasted for 764 days whilst ministers brought in over 100 new restrictions almost never debated increasingly confusing the public and some we would find out stained with corruption Meanwhile behind the doors of Downing Street officials and even the Prime Minister broke the very laws they had created

This book will tell the startling story of the state of emergency which became an emergency state how extreme measures caused constitutional chaos and why it is only by understanding these unprecedented events that we can learn lessons for the future

Superb authoritative thoughtful and terrifying in equal measure The Secret Barrister

Astonishing Detailed dispassionate and definitive An urgent warning and work of major importance James OBrien

A riveting account of how our democracy was put under threat during the Pandemic and why we must never let the Emergency State allpowerful but ignorant and corrupt take over again Lady Hale former President of the UK Supreme Court

Cleareyed forensic and compelling Wagner sets out what during the Covid19 pandemic and the lessons we need to learn Jonathan Freedland author of The Escape Artist

Adam Wagner 2022 P Penguin Audio 2022