British Government and the Constitution

This fifth edition shows how recent constitutional changes have become an accepted feature of British life, generating much case law and altering the terms of political debate. The work is intended for students of both politics and law.

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The previous (fourth) edition of this book came out in the midst of a programme of constitutional reform, and further reform projects (for reform of the House of Lords, the electoral system and freedom of information) were getting under way. This fifth edition shows how some of these constitutional changes have become an accepted feature of British life, generating much case law and altering the terms of political debate. The Freedom of Information Act has appeared on the statute book, promising an advance in the public's 'right to know' but problematic in its detail. While reform of the House of Lords has gone hesitantly forward, the argument about the future composition and role of the second chamber is still unresolved. And electoral reform, while presently stalled, has not ceased to stimulate debate. The work is intended for students of both politics and law.