Thursday 9 August 2012

Reception

The book has attracted a positive reception, with recommendations from journalists such as Kevin Maguire from The Mirror, The Observer's Andrew Rawnsley, The Sunday Telegraph's Matthew d’Ancona and from Patrick Wintour, the political editor of The Guardian. Abigail O'Reilly for The Independent describes the book as an "excellent, clearly written" guide to Blue Labour. A review by Tom Cutterham of The Oxonian , focuses on how in his opinion the book informs the reader about Ed Miliband's retreat from the more radically socialist outlook he had before winning the leadership contest.  Carl Packman of Left Foot Forward calls the book "fantastic", saying it's an introduction to Glasman's efforts to rejuvenate a "party with a great, Blair-shaped hole in its body."

Don Paskini of Liberal Conspiracy says the book describes Blue Labour's ideas with "far more eloquence and clarity than any Blue Labour advocate" has managed hitherto. He also says the book creates a favorable impression of Lord Glasman as a politician, but that it does not convince him of the merits of Blue Labour's ideas. Ian Geary for the Christian Socialist Movement described the book as gripping, accurate and sympathetic, but also noted that it omitted to discuss Lord Glasman's engagement with Christian Socialism.  In The New Statesman, George Eaton also praises the book but says he remains sceptical of Blue Labour's anti-statist leanings.