The New Labour Constitution
Twenty Years On
Published on 28. September 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
480 pages
978-1-5099-5725-5 (ISBN)
Description
The New Labour government first elected in 1997 had a defining influence on the development of the modern UK constitution. This book combines legal and political perspectives to provide a unique assessment of the way in which this major programme of constitutional reform has changed the nature of the UK constitution. The chapters, written by leading experts in UK public law and politics, analyse the impact and legacy of the New Labour reform programme some 20 years on from the 1997 general election, and reveal the ways in which the UK constitution is now, to a significant extent, the 'New Labour constitution'.
The book takes a broad approach to exploring the legacy of the New Labour years for the UK constitution. The contributors evaluate a range of specific substantive reforms (including on human rights, devolution, freedom of information, and the judicial system), changes to the process and method of constitutional reform under New Labour, the impact on key institutions (such as the judiciary and Parliament), and a number of wider constitutional themes (including national security, administrative justice, and the relationship between the Labour Party and constitutionalism). The book also reflects on the future challenges for the constitution constructed by New Labour, and the prospects for further constitutional reform.
In bringing together this range of perspectives to reflect on the implications of the New Labour era of reform, this book offers a critical examination of a foundational period in the development of the contemporary UK constitution.
The book takes a broad approach to exploring the legacy of the New Labour years for the UK constitution. The contributors evaluate a range of specific substantive reforms (including on human rights, devolution, freedom of information, and the judicial system), changes to the process and method of constitutional reform under New Labour, the impact on key institutions (such as the judiciary and Parliament), and a number of wider constitutional themes (including national security, administrative justice, and the relationship between the Labour Party and constitutionalism). The book also reflects on the future challenges for the constitution constructed by New Labour, and the prospects for further constitutional reform.
In bringing together this range of perspectives to reflect on the implications of the New Labour era of reform, this book offers a critical examination of a foundational period in the development of the contemporary UK constitution.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
580 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5099-5725-5 (9781509957255)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2022
1st Edition
Hart Publishing
€55.49
Available for download
E-Book
02/2022
1st Edition
Hart Publishing
€55.49
Available for download
Persons
Michael Gordon is Professor of Constitutional Law and Adam Tucker is Senior Lecturer in Law, both at the University of Liverpool, UK.
Content
The New Labour Constitution: Twenty Years On: Introduction
Michael Gordon, University of Liverpool, UK and Adam Tucker, University of Liverpool, UK
1. Labour's Constitutional Changes 1997-2010: Time for More
Lord Falconer of Thoroton, House of Lords, UK
2. Britain's New Labour Constitution: Causes and Consequences
Rodney Brazier, University of Manchester, UK
3. The Human Rights Act 1998: Two Decades Swimming Upstream
Helene Tyrrell, Newcastle University, UK
4. The Unintended Consequences of Legislative Constitutionalism: The Common Law Constitution and Judicial Comparativism
Se-shauna Wheatle, Durham University, UK
5. Judicial Policy and New Labour's Constitutional Project
Graham Gee, University of Sheffield, UK
6. Devolution: A New Fundamental Principle of the UK Constitution
Chris MCCorkindale, University of Strathclyde, UK
7. The 'Evolution' of Devolution: Assessing Labour's Legacy in England
Arianna Giovannini, De Montfort University, UK
8. 'Three Harmless Words': New Labour and Freedom of Information
Ben Worthy, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK
9. What Was New Labour's Vision for Parliament? And Did It Succeed?
Louise Thompson, University of Manchester, UK
10. New Labour's Judicial Power Project
Roger Masterman, Durham University, UK
11. New Labour's Secret National Security Constitution
Paul F Scott, University of Glasgow, UK
12. Individual Terrorist Suspects as the New Folk Devil: New Labour, Rights Tokenism and Security Compulsions
Rumyana van Ark (nee Grozdanova), University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
13. Revisiting the Administrative Justice Legacy of New Labour
Joe Tomlinson, University of York, UK and Richard Kirkham, University of Sheffield, UK
14. Referendums and New Labour's Constitutional Reforms
Leah Trueblood, University of Oxford, UK
15. Neoliberalism, Labour Law and New Labour's Turn to Constitutionalism
Robert Knox, University of Liverpool, UK
16. The Legacy of the New Labour Constitution and the Future of Labour Constitutionalism
Michael Gordon, University of Liverpool, UK and Adam Tucker, University of Liverpool, UK
Michael Gordon, University of Liverpool, UK and Adam Tucker, University of Liverpool, UK
1. Labour's Constitutional Changes 1997-2010: Time for More
Lord Falconer of Thoroton, House of Lords, UK
2. Britain's New Labour Constitution: Causes and Consequences
Rodney Brazier, University of Manchester, UK
3. The Human Rights Act 1998: Two Decades Swimming Upstream
Helene Tyrrell, Newcastle University, UK
4. The Unintended Consequences of Legislative Constitutionalism: The Common Law Constitution and Judicial Comparativism
Se-shauna Wheatle, Durham University, UK
5. Judicial Policy and New Labour's Constitutional Project
Graham Gee, University of Sheffield, UK
6. Devolution: A New Fundamental Principle of the UK Constitution
Chris MCCorkindale, University of Strathclyde, UK
7. The 'Evolution' of Devolution: Assessing Labour's Legacy in England
Arianna Giovannini, De Montfort University, UK
8. 'Three Harmless Words': New Labour and Freedom of Information
Ben Worthy, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK
9. What Was New Labour's Vision for Parliament? And Did It Succeed?
Louise Thompson, University of Manchester, UK
10. New Labour's Judicial Power Project
Roger Masterman, Durham University, UK
11. New Labour's Secret National Security Constitution
Paul F Scott, University of Glasgow, UK
12. Individual Terrorist Suspects as the New Folk Devil: New Labour, Rights Tokenism and Security Compulsions
Rumyana van Ark (nee Grozdanova), University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
13. Revisiting the Administrative Justice Legacy of New Labour
Joe Tomlinson, University of York, UK and Richard Kirkham, University of Sheffield, UK
14. Referendums and New Labour's Constitutional Reforms
Leah Trueblood, University of Oxford, UK
15. Neoliberalism, Labour Law and New Labour's Turn to Constitutionalism
Robert Knox, University of Liverpool, UK
16. The Legacy of the New Labour Constitution and the Future of Labour Constitutionalism
Michael Gordon, University of Liverpool, UK and Adam Tucker, University of Liverpool, UK