New Labour, New Britain: How the Blair Governments Reshaped the Country

A bold and balanced re-appraisal of New Labour in power.

Rewriting the story of New Labour, Glen O’Hara challenges the prevailing narrative to present a more balanced and positive assessment. New Labour, New Britain? is the first book to examine both the intentions behind New Labour’s domestic policies and their real-world effects, moving beyond the entrenched left-right debates that have dominated the party’s legacy.

The period from 1997 to 2007 marked a pivotal moment in modern British history, as New Labour sought to reshape Britain into a more cohesive and forward-thinking society. It saw the rise of socially liberal attitudes and flourishing public services under a government committed to rebuilding and investing in them. Yet New Labour’s track record was far from flawless and its legacy remains complicated and contested.

Through interviews with key players and rigorous archival research, O’Hara offers a new perspective on Tony Blair’s years in power. Painting a fuller picture of New Labour’s successes and challenges, he highlights its lasting impact on Britain and offers a thoughtful reassessment of its place in history.

Glen O’Hara is Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Oxford Brookes University. A former journalist, he is the author of a series of books and articles about modern Britain, including The Paradoxes of Progress (2012) and The Politics of Water in Post-War Britain (2017). He is a regular commentator on British politics and public policy in the press, including the Guardian, the Financial Times, the Telegraph, Times Higher Education and the New European.