Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-220) and index.

"How Britain Works examines the new local governance system in Britain. Using original research and in-depth interviews with leading members from the local and national governance communities, Michael Temple argues that the system 'created' by Margaret Thatcher's reforms, when combined with New Labour's emphasis on delivering measurable improvements to outputs, has enabled Tony Blair to have unprecedented control over the policy process. This, together with the weaknesses in community participation and democratic accountability which Temple identifies, contradicts the prime minister's stated intention in his Third Way programme to empower local decision-making communities. The author concludes that, far from leading to a more pluralist political culture, the emphasis on achieving centrally determined outputs means that New Labour's governing style is more centralized and directive than the Conservatives' under Margaret Thatcher; to what end is still uncertain."--Jacket.

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