Biteback Publishing

Biteback Publishing is a British independent publishing house based in Hull and focused primarily on political and current-affairs books. The company was incorporated in 2009 as a private limited company with share capital. Its catalogue has been associated with political insiders, journalists, parliamentarians, commentators and public figures, giving the imprint a profile centered on contemporary public life rather than on a single narrow ideological position. The company was jointly owned by its managing director Iain Dale and Political Holdings Ltd, an investment company associated with businessman and Conservative peer Michael Ashcroft, until 2018. Dale later stepped down from the company to concentrate on his television and radio work. Ashcroft has also been among Biteback's authors, including through Call Me Dave, his 2015 biography of former British prime minister David Cameron. The overlap between ownership, political publishing and prominent political authors has been an identifiable feature of the imprint's public profile. Biteback's list includes political memoir, biography, political analysis, investigative journalism and books dealing with public controversy. Examples include James Wharton's Out in the Army: My Life as a Gay Soldier, Dave Rich's The Left's Jewish Problem, and James Ball's Post-Truth: How Bullshit Conquered the World. The catalogue has also included works by elected politicians, such as Austin Mitchell's Revenge of the Rich: The Neoliberal Revolution in Britain and New Zealand and Confessions of a Political Maverick. These titles illustrate the publisher's interest in first-person political experience as well as broader analysis of institutions, ideology, media and public debate. The imprint has not been limited entirely to conventional political nonfiction. It published Jesse Norman's first novel, The Winding Stair, in 2023. The book received the 2023 Parliamentary Book Award for Nonfiction or Fiction by a Parliamentarian, according to the supplied reference material. In 2024, Biteback published broadcaster and journalist Andrew Pierce's memoir Finding Margaret, which concerns his search for his birth mother and was described in the reference material as a bestseller. These publications show an expansion into literary and personal narratives connected to public figures while retaining a strong relationship with political authorship. Biteback has also continued to develop its forward publishing programme. In 2025 it acquired world rights to How to Launder Money: A Guide for Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Policymakers by George Cottrell and Burke Files, with publication scheduled for February 2026. The company also announced plans to publish Jago Pearson's authorised biography of entrepreneur Denis Lynn in 2026. Around 2014, approximately 20% of the company's sales were reported to come from ebooks, indicating that digital editions formed a meaningful part of its distribution mix at that time. Overall, Biteback Publishing occupies a recognizable position in the British political-book sector: an independent, personality-led imprint publishing books by politicians, journalists, commentators and figures whose experiences intersect with government, media and public controversy. Its available catalogue and announcements indicate an active business with a continuing emphasis on nonfiction, while also accommodating selected fiction, memoir and biography.

Biteback Publishing was incorporated in 2009 as a private limited company with share capital. From its early development, the company concentrated on political and current-affairs publishing, building a list around politicians, journalists, commentators and authors writing about government, ideology, media and public institutions. Its base is in Hull, England. The company was jointly owned by managing director Iain Dale and Political Holdings Ltd, associated with businessman and Conservative peer Michael Ashcroft. This ownership structure was notable because Ashcroft was also a prominent Biteback author. His 2015 biography of David Cameron, Call Me Dave, became one of the publisher's identifiable political titles. The relationship illustrates the imprint's close connection with contemporary British political networks, while its catalogue also included authors from different perspectives and professional backgrounds. Among the publisher's other political and public-affairs books were James Wharton's 2013 memoir Out in the Army: My Life as a Gay Soldier, Dave Rich's 2016 study The Left's Jewish Problem, and James Ball's 2017 book Post-Truth: How Bullshit Conquered the World. Biteback also published two books by Labour MP Austin Mitchell: Revenge of the Rich: The Neoliberal Revolution in Britain and New Zealand in 2017, followed by Confessions of a Political Maverick in 2018. Together, these publications show the breadth of the list, spanning personal experience, political history, ideological criticism and journalism. In 2018, Iain Dale stepped down from the company to focus on television and radio work. The available reference material does not identify a successor or provide a complete account of the company's ownership after his departure. Biteback nevertheless continued publishing books connected with parliament and public life. Its list later expanded beyond strictly political nonfiction. In 2023 it published Jesse Norman's first novel, The Winding Stair, which received the Parliamentary Book Award for Nonfiction or Fiction by a Parliamentarian. The 2024 publication of Andrew Pierce's Finding Margaret further demonstrated the imprint's interest in memoir and personal investigation. The book recounts Pierce's search for his birth mother and was described in the supplied material as a bestseller. Biteback's subsequent announcements indicate that the company remained active in 2025. It acquired world rights to How to Launder Money: A Guide for Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Policymakers by George Cottrell and Burke Files, with release scheduled for February 2026. It also announced a 2026 authorised biography of entrepreneur Denis Lynn by Jago Pearson. The publisher's business has included both print and digital editions. A 2014 reference point indicated that approximately one-fifth of its sales came from ebooks, although no more recent sales breakdown is available in the supplied sources. The evidence supports describing Biteback as an active independent British imprint with a core specialization in political and current-affairs publishing, complemented by memoir, biography, journalism and occasional fiction. Detailed information about its current management, ownership, revenue and present staff is not established by the available material.

1. 2025World-rights acquisition for How to Launder Money

   The company acquired world rights to a forthcoming book by George Cottrell and Burke Files, scheduled for publication in 2026.

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2. 2023Publication of The Winding Stair

   Biteback published Jesse Norman's first novel, which later received a Parliamentary Book Award.

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3. 2018Iain Dale steps down

   Co-owner and managing director Iain Dale left the company to focus on television and radio work.

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4. 2015Publication of Call Me Dave

   Biteback released Michael Ashcroft's biography of David Cameron.

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5. 2013Publication of Out in the Army

   Biteback published James Wharton's memoir Out in the Army: My Life as a Gay Soldier.

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6. 2009Company incorporated

   Biteback Publishing was incorporated as a British private limited company with share capital.

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An independent British publisher specializing in political, current-affairs and public-life books, with additional memoir, biography and selected fiction.

• Call Me DavePolitical biography2015

  Michael Ashcroft's biography of David Cameron, published by Biteback in 2015. The book belongs to the publisher's core political-biography list and reflects its emphasis on books examining senior British political figures.

• Out in the Army: My Life as a Gay SoldierMemoir2013

  James Wharton's memoir, published in 2013. It combines personal experience with commentary on military life and LGBT identity, representing Biteback's interest in first-person accounts connected to public institutions and social issues.

• The Left's Jewish ProblemPolitical analysis2016

  Dave Rich's 2016 book examining debates concerning antisemitism, the political left and public discourse. It is an example of Biteback's publication of contentious contemporary political and cultural analysis.

• Post-Truth: How Bullshit Conquered the WorldCurrent-affairs journalism2017

  James Ball's 2017 investigation of misinformation, political communication and the erosion of trust in public debate. The title fits Biteback's focus on journalism and major issues affecting contemporary democratic culture.

• Revenge of the Rich: The Neoliberal Revolution in Britain and New ZealandPolitical history and analysis2017

  Austin Mitchell's examination of neoliberal political change in Britain and New Zealand, published in 2017. It illustrates the publisher's willingness to release political books by serving or former parliamentarians.

• Confessions of a Political MaverickPolitical memoir2018

  Austin Mitchell's political memoir, published by Biteback in 2018. The book extends the publisher's list of first-person accounts by politicians and provides a personal perspective on parliamentary life and political dissent.

• The Winding StairFiction2023

  Jesse Norman's first novel, published by Biteback in 2023. Its publication demonstrates that the imprint's catalogue can extend beyond nonfiction while remaining connected to authors with public and parliamentary profiles.

• Finding MargaretMemoir2024

  Andrew Pierce's memoir, published in 2024, about his search for his birth mother. The title represents Biteback's continuing publication of personal narratives by journalists and public figures.

• How to Launder Money: A Guide for Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and PolicymakersLaw-enforcement and policy nonfiction2026

  A forthcoming book by George Cottrell and Burke Files. Biteback acquired world rights in 2025, with publication scheduled for February 2026 according to the supplied reference material.

• 2025Acquisition of world rights for How to Launder MoneyM&A

  Biteback expanded its forthcoming nonfiction programme with a book focused on money laundering and the work of law-enforcement and policy professionals.

  What changed. The publisher acquired worldwide rights to the work by George Cottrell and Burke Files.

  Aftermath. Publication was scheduled for February 2026; later sales or reception are not established in the available sources.

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• 2018Change in senior ownership and managementStrategy

  Iain Dale had been a joint owner and managing director of Biteback Publishing, while Political Holdings Ltd was the other identified co-owner.

  What changed. Dale stepped down from the company to concentrate on television and radio work.

  Aftermath. The available sources do not identify the subsequent managing director or provide full details of the post-2018 ownership structure.

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• 2025Biteback acquires world rights to How to Launder Money

  Biteback acquired world rights to How to Launder Money: A Guide for Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Policymakers by George Cottrell and Burke Files, with publication planned for February 2026.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2025Biteback announces authorised biography of Denis Lynn

  The publisher announced a planned 2026 release of Jago Pearson's authorised biography of entrepreneur Denis Lynn.

  Product launch
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• 2024Biteback publishes Andrew Pierce's Finding Margaret

  The publisher released journalist Andrew Pierce's memoir about his search for his birth mother; the title was described in the reference material as a bestseller.

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• 2023The Winding Stair receives a Parliamentary Book Award

  Biteback published Jesse Norman's first novel, The Winding Stair, which received the Parliamentary Book Award for Nonfiction or Fiction by a Parliamentarian in 2023.

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• 2018Biteback publishes Austin Mitchell's political memoir

  Biteback published Confessions of a Political Maverick by Labour MP Austin Mitchell, following his earlier book Revenge of the Rich.

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• 2017Biteback publishes James Ball's Post-Truth

  The publisher released James Ball's analysis of misinformation, political communication and the changing information environment.

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• 2015Biteback publishes Michael Ashcroft's biography of David Cameron

  Biteback published Call Me Dave, Michael Ashcroft's biography of former British prime minister David Cameron.

  Product launch
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