Reforming Britain: New Labour, New Constitution

by JohnMorrison (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2001

  $3.25

  New Labour's shake-up of the British constitution is the most significant for at least a century; devolution and the Human Rights Act will permanently alter the way the UK is governed. Meanwhile other key areas of government, such as the office of Lord Chancellor, have escaped unscathed, and critics say the reforms are incoherent. Unique in its topicality, range and depth, Reforming Britain is the only full survey of the whole constitutional reform agenda under the New Labour government. It describes how Labour has redrawn the political map and assesses the impact upon citizens in Blair's Britain. John Morrison puts Labour's achievements (and underachievements) in perspective, chronicling the ups and downs of Labour policymaking, from the opening of the Scottish Parliament to the dramatic fall of Alun Michael in Cardiff. He explains the reasoning behind reform and looks at what the future might hold for us all, asking whether Blair's modernization of the constitution will really make Britain more democratic.He also looks at the government's attitude to the monarchy and asks how the United Kingdom can take part in framing a new constitution for the European Union when it has no written constitution of its own. Reforming Britain is based on over 50 hours of interviews with the key political players of the last few years, including Home Secretary Jack Straw and the former Liberal Democrat Leader Paddy Ashdown, and features one of the last interviews with Donald Dewar - the architect of modern Scotland - before his death. The book combines serious research with first-hand observation and an engaging journalistic style, and includes a foreword from Michael Brunson, former ITN Political Editor. John Morrison delves deep into the heart of British politics, shedding unusual light on the workings of Westminster at a time of unprecedented change.