The British Constitution

in The Latter Part Of The Nineteenth Century Walter Bagehot Wrote A Classic Account Of The British Constitution As It Had Developed During Queen Victoria's Reign. He Argued That The Late Victorian Constitution Was Not At All What People Thought It Was. Anthony King Argues That The Same Is True At The Beginning Of This Century. Most People Are Aware That A Series Of Major Constitutional Changes Has Taken Place, But Few Recognize That Their Cumulative Effect Has Been To Change Entirely The Nature Of Britain's Constitutional Structure. The Old Constitution Has Gone. The Author Insists That The New Constitution Is A Mess, But One That We Can Make The Best Of. the British Constitution Is Neither A Reference Book Nor A Textbook. Like Bagehot's Classic, It Is Written With Wit And Mordant Humor—by Someone Who Is A Journalist And Political Commentator As Well As A Distinguished Academic. The Author Maintains That, While The New British Constitution Is A Mess, There Is No Going Back Now. As Always, He Says, Nostalgia Is A Good Companion But A Bad Guide. Far From Shying Away From The Thorniest Issues Facing The British Polity Today, The Author Grapples With Them Head On. He Offers A Trenchant Analysis Of The Increasingly Divergent Relationship Between England, Scotland And Wales In The Light Of Devolution And A Devastating Critique Of The Reformed House Of Lords, Whose Benches, The Author Fears, Risk Being Adorned By A Miscellaneous Assemblage Of Party Hacks, Political Careerists, Clapped-out Retired Or Defeated Mps, Has-beens, Never-were's And Never-could-possibly-be's. the Book Is A Bagehot For The 21st Century - The Product Of A Lifetime's Reflection On The Topic, And Essential Reading For Anyone With An Interest In The Nature And Future Of British Political Life. In the latter part of the nineteenth century Walter Bagehot wrote a classic account of the British constitution as it had developed during Queen Victoria's reign. He argued that the late Victorian constitution was not at all what people thought it was. Anthony King argues that the same is true at the beginning of this century. Most people are aware that major constitutional changes have taken place, but few recognize that their cumulative effect has been to change entirely the nature of Britain's constitutional structure. The old constitution has gone. The author insists that the new constitution is a mess, but one that we can make the best of. The British Constitution is neither a reference book nor a textbook. Like Bagehot's classic, it is written with wit and mordant humour-by someone who is a journalist and political commentator as well as a distinguished academic. The author maintains that, while the new British constitution is a mess, there is no going back now.'As always', he says,'nostalgia is a good companion but a bad guide.'Far from shying away from the thorniest issues facing the British polity today, the author grapples with them head on. He offers a trenchant analysis of the increasingly divergent relationship between England, Scotland and Wales in the light of devolution and a devastating critique of an all-elected House of Lords, whose benches, the author fears, risk being adorned by'a miscellaneous assemblage of party hacks, political careerists, clapped-out retired or defeated MPs, has-beens, never-were's and never-could-possibly-be's'. The book is a Bagehot for the twenty-first century - the product of a lifetime's reflection on British politics and essential reading for anyone interested in how the British system has changed and how it is likely to change in future. "In the latter part of the nineteenth century Walter Bagehot wrote a classic account of the British constitution as it had developed during Queen Victoria's reign. He argued that the late Victorian constitution was not at all what people thought it was. Anthony King argues that the same is true at the beginning of this century. Most people are aware that major constitutional changes have taken place, but few recognize that their cumulative effect has been to change entirely the nature of Britain's constitutional structure. The old constitution has gone. The author insists that the new constitution is a mess, but one that we can make the best of. The British Constitution is neither a reference book nor a textbook. Like Bagehot's classic, it is written with wit and mordant humour-by someone who is a journalist and political commentator as well as a distinguished academic. The author maintains that, while the new British constitution is a mess, there is no going back now. 'As always', he says, 'nostalgia is a good companion but a bad guide.' Far from shying away from the thorniest issues facing the British polity today, the author grapples with them head on. He offers a trenchant analysis of the increasingly divergent relationship between England, Scotland and Wales in the light of devolution and a devastating critique of an all-elected House of Lords, whose benches, the author fears, risk being adorned by 'a miscellaneous assemblage of party hacks, political careerists, clapped-out retired or defeated MPs, has-beens, never-were's and never-could-possibly-be's'"--Jacket Contents......Page 12 1. What Is a ‘Constitution’?......Page 14 2. The Canonical Sextet......Page 28 3. Britain’s Traditional Constitution......Page 52 4. The Impetus to Change......Page 76 5. Britain’s Near Abroad......Page 104 6. The Judges Come Out......Page 128 7. The Ghost of Local Government......Page 164 8. John Bull’s Other Lands......Page 192 9. Mandarins as Managers......Page 228 10. Democracy Rampant......Page 262 11. References to the People......Page 290 12. Their Lordships......Page 310 13. Great British Icons......Page 326 14. Britain’s New Constitution......Page 358 Postscript......Page 379 Notes......Page 384 Bibliography......Page 404 B......Page 432 C......Page 433 D......Page 436 E......Page 437 G......Page 438 H......Page 439 I......Page 440 L......Page 441 M......Page 442 N......Page 443 P......Page 444 R......Page 446 S......Page 447 T......Page 448 W......Page 449 Y......Page 450 "This book seeks to do for the British constitution at the beginning of the twenty-first century what Walter Bagehot did for what he insisted on calling the English constitution during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Bagehot thought the working constitution of his time was not altogether what people thought it was. This book seeks to demonstrate the same proposition. It sets out to describe the traditional British constitution and to show how it has changed and why. It also explores the implications and consequences of the changes that have taken place. They seem to me to have been, and to continue to be, profound."--Preface Contents 12 1. What Is a ‘Constitution’? 14 2. The Canonical Sextet 28 3. Britain’s Traditional Constitution 52 4. The Impetus to Change 76 5. Britain’s Near Abroad 104 6. The Judges Come Out 128 7. The Ghost of Local Government 164 8. John Bull’s Other Lands 192 9. Mandarins as Managers 228 10. Democracy Rampant 262 11. References to the People 290 12. Their Lordships 310 13. Great British Icons 326 14. Britain’s New Constitution 358 Postscript 379 Notes 384 Bibliography 404 Index 432 A 432 B 432 C 433 D 436 E 437 F 438 G 438 H 439 I 440 J 441 K 441 L 441 M 442 N 443 O 444 P 444 Q 446 R 446 S 447 T 448 U 449 V 449 W 449 Y 450