We are delighted, and believe me eager, to announce that I.B.Tauris have received five nominations in the new political book awards launched this year by Total Politics.

I.B.Tauris dominated the recently announced shortlist for the International Relations Book of the Year category, with three nominations for Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State by David Patrikarakos, The Strongman: Vladimir Putin and the Struggle for Russia by Angus Roxburgh, and Britain’s Quest for a Role: A Diplomatic Memoir from Europe to the UN by David Hannay.

Lord Hannay’s diplomatic memoir, which covers 50 years of service and emphasises the importance of the UK’s relationship with the EU, has also been nominated for Political Book of the Year, which is chosen from all of the books submitted. The winner of the Political Book of the Year will receive a cheque for £10,000, which has been donated by Lord Ashcroft and sponsor Paddy Power.

Lastly, and by no means least, The Liberal Unionist Party: A History by Ian Cawood, a book about the short-lived Liberal Unionist Party of the 1880s which entered into a coalition government with the Conservative party, has been nominated for Political History Book of the Year.

The awards, which seek to recognise the very best in political writing and publishing, will be presented at a star studded ceremony on Wednesday 6th February 2013 at the BFI IMAX cinema. The judging panels include Charles Clarke, Chris Mullin and Mary Beard.

A spokesman for the awards has said the shortlist has ‘more flair and zing than a Barcelona midfield.’ Although we’re not sure it’s possible for anything to have more ‘zing’ than a Barcelona midfield, it’s not for us to decide.

So for a full shortlist detailing all the awards and nominated books, do go and visit the Total Politics website. ■