This has been an interesting book to write and it has once again reminded me of how little we have engaged with the international agreements that have been used to shape the UK state since the 1970s. We have attributed outsourcing to the domestic ideology of the Thatcher years and membership of the European Union (EU). We have lived within the mantras of efficiency and effectiveness, performance management and austerity without looking behind them at the continuing application of international agreements made by our government with the World Trade Organization. While there has been vilification of EU for procurement practices and state aid rules, we have failed to understand how these have been applied because the UK has agreed to them as part of its wider international commitments, beyond the EU. They will not be removed by Brexit. Our failure to engage in these agreements and practices has meant that the reforms of the state that have been delivered as part of their implementation, reinforced by the inevitability of these international agreements providing protection for their delivery, have not been challenged – but there were choices. As demonstrated here, central state administrations seek out international agreements to provide camouflage for the changes they wish to make to retain control. We need to question, investigate and understand more of what is being undertaken so that it can be challenged and called out when necessary. We do not have to accept that the narratives of the state are always as they seem, and we can do better.

This book came about through a coffee break conversation with Stephen Wenham at a Political Studies Association annual conference. I would very much like to thank Stephen for all our rare similar exchanges and for his challenge to me to write this book. My first book for Policy Press came about in a similar way after sitting next to Alison Shaw at a conference and subsequent books with Emily Watt have been hatched over coffees and dinners. What a great team to work with, and Caroline, Susannah, Jessica and Laura have all been there to provide support and encouragement to relate these issues to a wider world. Thank you.