Heroes or Villains?: The Blair Government Reconsidered

Tony Blair was a political colossus in Britain for thirteen years, winning three elections in a row for New Labour. Since leaving office, he has been disowned by many in his own party, and the term "Blairite" has become an insult. This book reconsiders the history and common view of New Labour against its record of delivering moderate social democracy. It shows how New Labour was not one party but two, and how it essentially governed as a coalition, much like the government that followed it. The book tells the inside story of how Blair worked out his ideas for improving the NHS and school reform, his foreign policy of liberal interventionism, his difficult relationship with his Chancellor, and how Gordon Brown finally took over just as the boom went bust and the New Labour era came to an end. The arguments that raged within and around the Blair government of 1997-2007 remain very much alive: reform of public services, the right course for the divided Labour Party, and the Iraq war. The Blair Government Reconsidered aims to provide a balanced account of how decisions were made to allow the reader to make up their own mind about controversies that still dominate politics today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 14 March 2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press

For thirteen years, Tony Blair reigned as the political giant in Britain, securing three consecutive election victories for New Labour, two of which were achieved with substantial majorities. However, since his departure from office, he has faced widespread disownment within his own party, with the term "Blairite" becoming a derogatory insult. The election of Jeremy Corbyn as the leader of the Labour Party in 2015 marked a significant departure from Blair's long-dominant influence on British politics, offering a contrasting reaction to his prolonged dominance of the centre and left.

Drawing upon fresh insights from key figures within the Blair government, including Tony Blair himself, Jon Davis, and John Rentoul, this book offers a reevaluation of New Labour's history and prevailing perception, challenging the notion that it solely represented a moderate form of social democracy. The authors reveal that New Labour was, in fact, a multifaceted entity composed of two distinct factions. They demonstrate how New Labour governed as a coalition, akin to the subsequent government that followed.

This comprehensive account delves into the inner workings of Tony Blair's thought processes as he formulated his ideas for improving the NHS and school reform. It explores his gradual evolution towards a foreign policy of liberal interventionism and his ten-year management of a complex relationship with his Chancellor. It also sheds light on Gordon Brown's eventual ascension to power, coinciding with the onset of the economic downturn. Rentoul and Davis unveil the dynamics within the governing boom and the New Labour era, shedding light on the interactions between the governing tribes and the under-reported civil servants who worked alongside them.

Many of the debates that raged within and around the Blair government of 1997-2007 continue to be relevant and contentious today: the reform of public services, the appropriate course for the divided Labour Party, and the Iraq war. The Blair Government Reconsidered strives to provide a balanced account of the decisions made during this period, offering insights into the complex web of factors that shaped the political landscape of the United Kingdom.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 166 x 244 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780199608850