Issues in British Politics

This book provides a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the key political issues in Britain and their impact on the electoral and policy process. The author concentrates on those issues that have won and lost elections in recent years--taxation, unemployment, education, health and welfare provision--and shows how the agenda of debate has evolved from the period of post-war consensus and Thatcherism through to the impact of New Labor. The book also provides full coverage of other issues of continuing political importance such as defense, law and order, racial and gender discrimination, and the environment, and pays particular attention to issues of UK governance such as devolution, Europe, Northern Ireland, the sleaze factor, accountability and the wide-ranging constitutional reforms under the Blair government.