Since World War II, most British governments tried to manipulate the economy for short-term party advantage, usually with disastrous long-term results. This lamentable tradition was common to both Conservatives and Labour; and yet, unfairly, it was the Labour Party that was most contaminated by the smear that it could not be trusted to manage the economy.
新工党（经布莱尔用他那善于混淆视听的特殊天赋重塑过）面临的主要挑战是英国经济的管理。二战以来，英国历届政府大多企图操纵经济，谋求短期的党派优势，通常伴随着灾难性的长期后果。这个可悲的传统保守党和工党都有，然而不太公平的是，工党最遭诟病，被认为没有管理经济的能力。