Representative Democracy in Britain Today

In the aftermath of the Scott Report and the Nolan Committee, this study looks at the declining accountability of government in Britain. A historical survey of the growth of democratic institutions in Britain reveals the great antiquity of the British parliamentary system but it also asks whether institutions evolved in the Middle Ages are suitable and relevant for a country facing the 21st century. A range of constitutional issues and concerns are examined, ranging from the regulation of privatized utilities, to the role of the Treasury in economic accountability. The changes in administration, with the growth of quangos and agencies, are examined, as is the role of unelected components of the system such as the Monarchy and the House of Lords. This volume should be of interest to anyone wishing to understand the changing nature of accountability, responsibility and political legitamacy in modern British politics.