This is the fifth volume in the series which analyses the impact of British contemporary government. The earlier volumes, often co-edited with Dennis Kavanagh, The Thatcher Effect, The Major Effect, The Blair Effect 1997–2001 and The Blair Effect 2001–05, were published in 1989, 1994, 2001 and 2005, respectively. The focus of enquiry has remained always the same. What dierence does a prime minister make across the waterfront of policy and government? The books were inspired by the Institute (now Centre) of Contemporary British History, founded in 1986.

The formula in all five volumes has not changed. Leading authorities from academe and the commentariat were asked to address common themes in their own specialist area:

• What was the state of your area when Labour took office in May 1997?

• What was the state of the area in June 2007, when Tony Blair left office?

• What changed and why?

• How successful or effective have the changes been?

• Where relevant, why was more not achieved?

• To what extent was change driven by the Prime Minister himself, by No. 10 in general, by Gordon Brown, by other ministers, departments, think-tanks, or by any other factors?

• What has been the net ‘Blair effect’ in your area between 1994/7 and 2007?

• To what extent did policy mark a departure from traditional Labour (and Thatcher/Major) policy?

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