Cyril Smith book co-authored by Simon Danczuk shortlisted for 'Political Book of the Year'

Smile For The Camera - The double life of Cyril Smith

Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith, the book written by Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk and his Parliamentary aide, Matt Baker, is on the shortlist for 'Political Book of the Year'.

The winner of the Political Book of the Year will receive a cheque for £10,000 donated by Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC.

Mr Danczuk said: "Can't believe the competition Matt Baker and I have for Political Book of the Year."

Matt Baker said he is "thrilled" at the book being shortlisted and added: "Honoured to be in such great company."

Other titles shortlisted are:

• The Snowden Files by Luke Harding (Guardian Faber)
• Please, Mister Postman by Alan Johnson (Bantam Press)
• Margot at War by Anne de Courcy (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
• Parliament: The Biography Volume 1 and 2 by Chris Bryant (Doubleday)
• Revolt on the Right by Robert Ford and Matthew Goodwin (Routledge)
• Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts (Allen Lane)

The judging panels are made up of leading political figures, political journalists and people from the world of publishing, including Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, Charles Clarke, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Damian McBride, Ann Treneman, Andrew Mitchell, Caroline Michel, Marilyn Warnick and Mary Beard.

The awards will be presented at a star-studded ceremony, hosted for the first time by impressionist Rory Bremner, on Wednesday 28 January at the BFI IMAX cinema.