May 1994 saw the sudden and tragic death of John Smith, cutdown at the moment he appeared set to become the next Prime Minister aftersuccessive electoral defeats for his party. His death, it is no exaggeration tosay, changed the entire course of history, paving the way for the accession ofTony Blair and the advent of New Labour.Smith presided over far-reaching and at times controversialreform of the Labour Party and its policies, committing his party toconstitutional reform, devolution and greater European integration – policiesthat we attribute to his successor today, despite Smith’s crucial role. Yet forsome in the party, his changes didn’t go nearly far enough.Thirty years on from his death, this fascinating collectionoffers a comprehensive assessment of Smith’s leadership of the Labour Party,written by academic experts in their chosen fields and by those who knew him asadvisors, MPs and journalists. Taking a wide-ranging look at all aspects ofSmith’s rule – from his legacy and popularity to his policies and priorities –the book seeks to answer the crucial question of whether his leadership was acontinuation of the ‘Old Labour’ attitudes that had come before him or theharbinger of the transformed New Labour that followed his tragically short timeas Leader of the Opposition.
