The Art of Delivery: The Inside Story of How the Blair Government Transformed Britain's Public Services

The Art of Delivery ventures inside 10 Downing Street at the turn of the millennium to unveil how Tony Blair's government successfully transformed the public services we value most. Though the Blair government had a huge mandate, there remained fundamental challenges to success – not least the Blair–Brown rivalry, which manifested itself in a proxy war over the direction of public service reform. Nevertheless, over four years, the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, led by Sir Michael Barber, upgraded the way in which the British government implemented improvements to the NHS and the education system. It also represented a watershed for how Prime Ministers engage with the real-world delivery of their priorities. Until now, much of this narrative has remained untold. Based on brand-new research and analysis, Michelle Clement uncovers the full story, drawing on 600,000 words of Sir Michael Barber's unpublished, handwritten private diaries as well as exclusive interviews and government papers. Filled with revealing insider detail, this is a human account of what it takes to effect change from behind that famous black door.

© 2025 Biteback Publishing (Ebook): 9781785909412

Release date

Ebook: 27 May 2025