From thehopeful beginnings of Britain's entry into the European project to thebitterness of Brexit, Continental Drift is a vivid, personal account ofa political life spent at the heart of the European Parliament. As Europe'slongest-serving MEP, Bill Newton-Dunn offers a front-row view of the shiftingtides in Britain's often uneasy relationship with its continental neighbours. Spanning the four decades from 1979 to 2020, this lively memoir chronicles thecurrents of Euroscepticism, internal wranglings of UK delegations and thecomplex dance between Westminster and Brussels. But ContinentalDrift is more than political history: it is also rich withbehind-the-scenes stories, sharp observations and colourful pen portraits ofthe characters who shaped Europe, from British premiers and fiery backbenchersto European visionaries and bureaucratic bruisers, not to mention impassionedCommunists and rumoured Mafiosi. With dry wit and unsparing honesty,Newton-Dunn brings to life the dramas, debates and diplomatic showdowns thatmarked a turbulent era. Candid, compelling andfrequently funny, Continental Drift is a timely reflection on Britain'splace in Europe - and what was lost when the flag came down.
