Bill Jones – författare

Fully updated and expanded, the second edition of this still compact text on British politics expertly analyses the major changes in British political life, placing them revealingly within the context of the evolution of British society from absolute monarchy to representative democracy.

The author considers each of the major components of British politics in digestible chapters, such as the Monarchy and the House of Lords, the Commons, voting behaviour, parties and pressure groups, the prime minister and cabinet, devolution, local government, and foreign policy. The book includes two new chapters on the EU referendum and Brexit, and the extraordinary December 2019 election, as well as coverage of events such as the coronavirus pandemic, and the respective travails of the increasingly split two major political parties.

This readable and comprehensive introduction will be of key interest to A-level students, undergraduates and those new to the study of British politics.

Fully updated and expanded, the second edition of this still compact text on British politics expertly analyses the major changes in British political life, placing them revealingly within the context of the evolution of British society from absolute monarchy to representative democracy.

The author considers each of the major components of British politics in digestible chapters, such as the Monarchy and the House of Lords, the Commons, voting behaviour, parties and pressure groups, the prime minister and cabinet, devolution, local government, and foreign policy. The book includes two new chapters on the EU referendum and Brexit, and the extraordinary December 2019 election, as well as coverage of events such as the coronavirus pandemic, and the respective travails of the increasingly split two major political parties.

This readable and comprehensive introduction will be of key interest to A-level students, undergraduates and those new to the study of British politics.

Informed by interviews with key political figures and commentators, this entertaining and enlightening book exposes the influences, processes and motivations behind ministerial promotion in British government.

It identifies and analyses the political sinews that have influenced the selection and upward progression of our rulers since the middle of the last century. Given that politics is fuelled by ambition, it provides commentary on how this often-criticised emotional drive can work positively in practice, motivating politicians to strive constantly for advancement in their quest for power and achievement. Drawing upon many biographies, it explains how politics is essentially about the strengths and frailties of the people who occupy positions of power. It illustrates that climbing up that greasy pole is dependent upon a number of key character traits of politicians: their strength of desire; their abilities/skills as communicators, managers and administrators; the ways in which fate throws up opportunities; and the raw courage of politicians in confronting these challenges. Ultimately, the book illuminates the abiding obsessions of that tiny but potent minority in democratic societies who dare to dream they can rule over us.

This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and anyone interested in British political history, biography and the politics of executive government.

Informed by interviews with key political figures and commentators, this entertaining and enlightening book exposes the influences, processes and motivations behind ministerial promotion in British government.

It identifies and analyses the political sinews that have influenced the selection and upward progression of our rulers since the middle of the last century. Given that politics is fuelled by ambition, it provides commentary on how this often-criticised emotional drive can work positively in practice, motivating politicians to strive constantly for advancement in their quest for power and achievement. Drawing upon many biographies, it explains how politics is essentially about the strengths and frailties of the people who occupy positions of power. It illustrates that climbing up that greasy pole is dependent upon a number of key character traits of politicians: their strength of desire; their abilities/skills as communicators, managers and administrators; the ways in which fate throws up opportunities; and the raw courage of politicians in confronting these challenges. Ultimately, the book illuminates the abiding obsessions of that tiny but potent minority in democratic societies who dare to dream they can rule over us.

This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and anyone interested in British political history, biography and the politics of executive government.

This revised and updated eleventh edition of the bestselling textbook Politics UK is an indispensable introduction to British politics. It provides a thorough and accessible overview of the institutions and processes of British government, an excellent grounding in British political history and an incisive introduction to the issues and challenges facing Britain today.

This edition welcomes rigorously updated revised chapters. It delivers excellent coverage of contemporary events, with significant new material covering the tumultuous end of the dominant Conservative party era under Johnson; the brief and contrasting Truss and Sunak premierships, followed by the seismic Labour general election victory for Keir Starmer in 2024 and the first stuttering steps of the new administration; the continued cost of living crisis and inflation; continued challenges around the UK’s place in a post-Brexit world and position on the invasion of Ukraine, climate change, and much more.

Other features of the new edition include:

With chapters written by highly respected scholars in the field and contemporary articles on real-world politics from well-known political commentators, this textbook is an essential guide for all students of British politics.

This revised and updated eleventh edition of the bestselling textbook Politics UK is an indispensable introduction to British politics. It provides a thorough and accessible overview of the institutions and processes of British government, an excellent grounding in British political history and an incisive introduction to the issues and challenges facing Britain today.

This edition welcomes rigorously updated revised chapters. It delivers excellent coverage of contemporary events, with significant new material covering the tumultuous end of the dominant Conservative party era under Johnson; the brief and contrasting Truss and Sunak premierships, followed by the seismic Labour general election victory for Keir Starmer in 2024 and the first stuttering steps of the new administration; the continued cost of living crisis and inflation; continued challenges around the UK’s place in a post-Brexit world and position on the invasion of Ukraine, climate change, and much more.

Other features of the new edition include:

With chapters written by highly respected scholars in the field and contemporary articles on real-world politics from well-known political commentators, this textbook is an essential guide for all students of British politics.