Over the past 30 years British politics has undergone something of a revolution: the collapse of close class allegiance to political parties; the relative decline of the British economy; the 18 year period of Conservative hegemony and related Labour impotence; the encroachments of control exercised by European institutions and the consequent discord amongst those who fear such influences; and the extraordinary emergence and enthronement in government of the Blairite New Labour Party. In addition, there have been major changes in the system of government including: a reshaped civil service; a modified parliament; modernizing political parties with changing ideologies; massive new media coverage; and, under Labour, an ambitious programme of reform. This book analyses and interprets the changing mosaic of political life in Britain over recent decades.