***OUT TODAY*** After three extraordinary years following a thread that led from Conservative HQ to Putin's St Petersburg via Kathmandu and a royal Scottish retreat, my new book CUCKOOLAND is out. It's the tale of a world where the rich own the truth. Our world. 👇🧵

It started back in 2021 when I heard that a rich Conservative donor called Mohamed Amersi had hired lawyers to go after a former MP who'd raised questions about his past, including how he made his money in Russia and elsewhere.

Not long after, Amersi himself gave a remarkable interview to @Gabriel_Pogrund about how the wealthy buy their way into the British establishment. He called this "access capitalism".

More details emerged about how and where Amersi made his fortune. There was that deal in Uzbekistan. All legit, he's always insisted.

All the while, Amersi was taking High Court legal action against the ex-MP who'd raised questions about him. Last week, @CharlotteLeslie told @cathynewman what it's been like to spend three years under legal attack - and Amersi gave his reasons.

Some call such tactics "lawfare". As @MarinaHyde and @richardosman discuss here (with their customary unsurpassable wit) the UK legal system can become, for those rich enough to wield it, a weapon to suppress scrutiny. (from 3.40 mins)

On Tuesday, an extract from Cuckooland ran in the @guardian. It told the secrets of the Conservative money machine.

That night @margarethodge called for the authorities to investigate one particular payment to the Conservatives. Amersi said no rules had been broken. @joepike told the story on @BBCNewsnight

Then on Wednesday, @DavidDavisMP used a speech in parliament to raise more questions about Amersi, his conduct and his money. Amersi responded by calling Davis a “biased bully, coward and liar” and denied the allegations.

Today Cuckooland is out, published by the steadfast @WmCollinsBooks. Amersi calls me "dumb ... a wanker", a "little journalist" who can "fuck off". He's repeatedly threatened to sue. A few minutes ago he offered his thoughts on the book.

Others - including @praddenkeefe - have kinder words for Cuckooland. 'BREATH-TAKING AND JAW-DROPPING' @peterfrankopan 'A TRUE-LIFE THRILLER' @anneapplebaum 'PERHAPS THE MOST URGENT AND IMPORTANT BOOK OF THE YEAR' @OliverBullough Make up your own mind: