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The Unfinished Revolution: How New Labour Changed British Politics Forever
 
 
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The Unfinished Revolution: How New Labour Changed British Politics Forever [Kindle Edition]

Philip Gould (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews) |
Kindle Price: £8.49 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Your reaction to the words "focus group" will determine your attitude to this book. If you think they are useful tool for gauging shifts in public opinion, read on and enjoy their ultimate application. If you think they are a Machiavellian tool to provide bogus popular support for a specific agenda, read on and weep.

Philip Gould, Labour's most prominent pollster of the last 10 years, is the master of the focus group and one of the key architects of the transformation of the Labour Party. When Tony Blair announced on the steps of 10 Downing Street that "we fought as New Labour and we will govern as New Labour", it was a vindication of Gould's efforts behind the scenes. His account of the wilderness years under Foot and Kinnock are as convincingly depressing as is the vibrant exhilaration of launching the new project under Blair. 1997 was a victory for Gould's brand of, and approach to, politics. But he knows that the battle is far from over. In a call to arms for the next century--"the progressive century"--Gould claims: "It is time to heal the rift between the Liberal and Labour traditions in British politics". Expect a new rash of focus groups to agree with him. --Nick Wroe

Review

'Undoubtedly one of the most fascinating accounts of how the modernisers changed the Labour Party and made it electable.' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Intriguing.' GUARDIAN 'Lively and revealing...the best insider's account yet.' EVENING STANDARD 'An edgy, pacy narrative.' GLASGOW HERALD 'I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the guts of this government' Andrew Marr, OBSERVER 'The most important guide to New Labour that has yet appeared' Bruce Anderson, SPECTATOR 'A fascinating story of high politics, with telling portraits of all the principals, from a man who has been at the centre of Labour's journey since 1985' THE TIMES
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Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 1668 KB
  • Print Length: 484 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0349111774
  • Publisher: Hachette Digital (22 Sep 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B005I5471A
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #64,279 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Philip Gould
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I am mentioned in this book and what he says about me is very kind... but I won't let that cloud my judgement. This is the insider's account of Labour's struggle to get elected under Neil Kinnock and Tony Blair (the Smith years are viewed by author as a failure). The book is - not surprisingly - somewhat self-serving and occassionally reads as 'what Philip did next' but it is also graphic in its description of the chaos of the 92 election campaign and harsh (too harsh) in its assessment of John Smith. If Gould is in awe of Blair who can blame him: sometimes it seems that the rest of the world is too. If you love politics, if you desperately wanted Labour to win, if you need some ideas to revive the corpse of the Tory party, then read this book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a truly fascinating account of the creation of New Labour, beautifully written, with great insight and attention to detail. It can be said that Gould has been the real creator and brains behind New labour - without his vision it is doubtful if New Labour would ever have seen the light of day. It must be frustrating for him to see the imperceptible but inevitable backsliding to the old philosophy now taking place.
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11 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was a member of the Labour Party during the events described in this book. Far from the uplifting and triumpalist approach the author takes, mine was of the autocratic closure of party branches, the destruction of internal democracy (and yes, it's replacement with those meaningless "focus groups"), the destruction of the youth wing of the party, the Labour Party Young Socialists, and Conference turned into a showcase rally.

Where there was debate there is now conformity. Where thre was discussion now there is preaching and dictat from on high. Where there was inclusion and accountabilty there is now a detached and unaccountable leadership. Witness the recent expences scandel. The author ignores or glosses over these issues with abandon, and for a reason. He and those of his ilk fear gunuine democratic socialist ideas.

And me gentle reader? I joined the Socialist Party.
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Strategy is about purpose and project. It is not, or should not be, simply an empirical and mechanistic process; it has to be given meaning through values. A strategy without purpose is merely a piece of intellectual machinery; political campaigning without purpose becomes a hollow technocratic activity. This is why a strong and serious project is so vital: the ideas, values, beliefs and policy that give meaning even in chaos and that made New Labour such a potent and sustained political force. &quote;
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An appropriate relationship between contribution and reward is, for most of the public, the core component of fairness, a kind of contributory fairness. The contrary view of fairness, the one traditionally associated with the left, is an equalitarian fairness: the view that equality and fairness are universally applicable values, intrinsic to the good society, and that society is morally better if it is more equal, more fair, more compassionate. &quote;
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