The New Labour Reader

The New Labour Reader draws together in one accessible volume a set of authoritative interpretations and accounts of New Labour in government, including key commentaries on the contemporary Labour Party and the Blair government. Using a variety of primary and secondary sources, the book maps out and explains New Labour's political trajectory, the policy agenda it has pursued and the process by which it governs. It uses excerpts from the best and most interesting material, including the writings and speeches of the Labour government's most influential figures. There are chapters on the New Labour debate, economic policy, the public services, constitutional reform, European policy and Labour's Whitehall style, as well as a critical introduction by the editors. This Reader will provide an initial point of access to the varied literature on this subject and prove an essential reference for understanding the wide-ranging implications of the New Labour 'project'. Since British politics is a core option on all undergraduate politics courses, it will be a vital resource for all who study the subject. Visit www.polity.co.uk/newlabour for articles and updates which support the book.

Andrew Chadwick is a Lecturer in Political Science at Royal Holloway, University of London. His previous publications include Augmenting Democracy: Political Movements and Constitutional Reform During The Rise of Labour, and he has published a number of articles in several scholarly journals


Richard Heffernan is a Lecturer in Government and Politics at The Open University. His publications include New Labour and Thatcherism: Political Change in Britain, The Labour Party: A Centenary History (edited with Brian Brivati), and Defeat From the Jaws of Victory: Inside Kinnock's Labour Party (with Mike Marqusee).