Structural Reform of British Local Government: Rhectoric and Reality

During the 1990s, the structure of local government in Scotland and Wales was completely reorganized by Acts of Parliament. Under other legislation, and in response to recommendations from the Local Government Commission, there was a partial reorganization in shire England. This study examines these reforms and looks at the contrast between the rhetoric used to justify replacing counties and districts by new unitary authorities and the realities of local government.