Better or Worse?
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Labour's second term is drawing to a close. What have they really achieved in the last four years? Did Iraq overshadow all? Did public services improve after all? Were the targets reached, the promises met? In Better or Worse? Toynbee and Walker do a thorough audit of hospitals, schools, trains, climate change, the constitution and the countryside and find the hard facts. The verdict? Blair II delivered. Figures show that Britain is safer, better educated, better off all round. But people don't believe it and the polls reveal this growing public mistrust. This is Labour's most profound failure. What caused this rift between perception and reality? Was it Blair's political style or the growing irresponsibility of the press? Incisive, comprehensive and fair, Better or Worse? gets away from the personalities and the spin to reveal the true political picture of Blair's Britain now. This is an essential analysis of the Labour Party's performance during the last four years.
Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist and broadcaster and formerly the BBC's social affairs editor. Her previous books include the acclaimed Hard Work, based on her personal experience of low-paid work. She has won National Press Awards and has been What the Papers Say columnist of the year. David Walker edits Public, the Guardian's new monthly magazine for senior executives and was formerly chief leader writer of the Independent. He is a regular presenter of BBC Radio Four's Analysis programme and a trustee of the National Centre for Social Research.