A series of University of East Anglia lectures which were turned into a book by former Norwich MP Charles Clarke has won a prestigious award.

The Too Difficult Box won the Practical Politics Book of the Year accolade at the Paddy Power Political Book Awards ceremony.

The book is based on lectures held at UEA between 2011 and 2014, which featured high-profile politicians, academics and policy makers speaking on key policy issues, including welfare reform, climate change, media regulation and drug control.

It was published by Biteback, the political publishing firm where Iain Dale, the former EDP columnist who stood against Norman Lamb in North Norfolk in the 2005 election, is managing director.

Mr Clarke, who was home secretary under Tony Blair, is currently running a further series, 'Charles Clarke In Conversation'.

He said: 'I am absolutely delighted to win this award. This was a UEA project, which turned into an award-winning book. It attempts to identify the challenges which politics needs to face up in order better to meet people's aspirations, and thus to reduce alienation and lack of engagement.

'The big problems of our time, such as the ageing society, the welfare state, climate change and immigration need democratic political long-term solutions. It's time to face up to that.'

https://www.uea.ac.uk/political-social-international-studies/events/charles-clarke-in-conversation