During its 13 years of office, Labour's modernization agenda transformed the world of UK local government. Amidst a starkly altered political and economic climate the coalition government formed in 2010 pledged to implement equally radical changes to the system. Taking account of the coalition's programme for government and its first round of spending cuts, the completely revised and updated fifth edition of this popular and established text is timed to take full advantage of this historic juncture.

David Wilson and Chris Game provide readers with systematic coverage of the UK's local government. The book examines its defining features, its history, changing structure, operations, functions, financing, and its relations with central government.

The fifth edition gives additional emphasis to local government in the devolved regions of the UK, and provides more extensive analysis of centre-local government relations. The authors deliver a thorough critique of Labour's third term in office. Looking ahead, the book anticipates the future of local government under the coalition government. Two themes look likely to dominate policy making: decentralization and cuts to public spending. With its clear, accessible, non-technical style and popular illustrations, Local Government in the United Kingdom will be essential reading for students, practitioners, and anyone with an interest in local politics.

Autorentext

DAVID WILSON Professor of Public Administration, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Business and Law at De Montfort University, Leicester.

CHRIS GAME Honorary Senior Lecturer, Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham, UK.

Inhalt

Introduction Our Aims and Approach
Themes and Issues in Local Government
Why Elected Local Government?
The Way it Was
The Way it Is External Structures
Devolution to the Nations and Regions
The Way it Is Internal Structures
Functions and Services
Governance and Partnership
Central-Local Government Relations The Formal Framework
Central-Local Government Relations The Practice
Local Finance
Local Elections Christmas Tree Lights?
Councillors The Voice of Choice
The Local Government Workforce
Political Parties
Who Makes Policy?
Voluntary and Community Groups
Three Decades, Two Governments, One Direction
'Localism, Localism, Localism'?