Party Politics in Local Government

Outside central government, the 450 or so local authorities in the United Kingdom are the only other democratic institutions in the UK in which the interplay of party politics can be observed and analyzed. Patterns of conflict and co-operation between the major parties at the local level, and the influence of links between national and local arms of these parties are crucial elements in the understanding of the political system. Clearly and accessibly written with illustrations and examples, this work is designed to provide a comprehensive student introduction to this key topic.