Introduction Chapter 1: The Constitution Introduction Political parties and constitutional reforms Reforming Britain''s constitution The House of Lords The Supreme Court Fixed-term Parliaments Electoral reform The Brexit referendum: a challenge to parliamentary democracy The Covid-19 crisis and the constitution Constitutional Monarchy at the end of the second Elizabethan era The monarch''s political neutrality in question The monarch''s religious role in an increasingly secular Britain Conclusion Chapter 2: Parties, Elections and Voters Introduction 1. The new party system(s) 2. The crisis of representation: how voting changed 3. Changes in parties: policies and organisation 4. New forms of participation Petitions and consultations Online campaigning Deliberative democracy Social movements Conclusion Chapter 3: The State of the Union Introduction 1. Devolution to Scotland and Wales 2. Northern Ireland 3. The 2014 Scottish independence referendum 4.

The Brexit effect 5. Consequences of the Covid pandemic 6. The state of England Conclusion Chapter 4: Britain and Europe - The Road to Brexit Introduction 1. The ambiguities of New Labour Changes in rhetoric Limits to the changes 2. The rise of Euroscepticism The Conservative party in opposition The coalition government 3. The Brexit referendum The campaign Explaining the result 4. UK-EU relations after Brexit Conclusion Chapter 5: Britain in the World Introduction New Labour, old values ? The UK, NATO and the defence of Europe in the post-Cold War context The Franco-British Saint-Malo Declaration: introducing new concepts in European defence Liberal interventionism and the ''special relationship'' with the USA The war in Kosovo and the UK''s ''moral'' international role Reviving the ''special relationship'' in the ''war on terror'' The legacy of ''Blair''s wars'' and ''liberal conservatism'' The ''Arab Spring'' and its aftermath No ''strategic shrinkage'': reviewing the UK''s defence and security priorities The United Kingdom and the EU''s foreign and security policy ''Global Britain'': a redefinition of Britain''s role in the world? Conclusion Chapter 6: The Economy Introduction 1. The New Labour era The 1997 economic context New Labour''s proposals for the 1997 general election Institutional reform: the independence of the Bank of England Globalisation: a catalyst for growth Public spending and investment Tax policy and welfare reforms The Housing market boom 2.

Gordon Brown''s premiership and the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis The global financial crisis and its impact on the British economy Economic measures Oucomes and the Brown''s legacy 3. The Conservative-led coalition government (2010-2015) and the Conservative government before the 2016 referendum Austerity policies Financial regulation and banking policies Monetary policies and interest rates Taxation policies Labour market and employment policies Housing and infrastructure policies 4. What political response to economic challenges after 2016? Trade policy and agreements Monetary policy and the control of inflation Regulatory reforms and financial services Fiscal policy and public spending Investment and productivity challenges Labour market and immigration policies Conclusion Chapter 7: A more diverse and unequal society Introduction 1. Demographic trends Population and families Social attitudes 2. Immigration and multiculturalism Attitudes towards immigrants Questioning state multiculturalism Immigration policy 3. Class and social inequalities Social classes and identity 4. Inequalities, poverty and unemployment Poverty Unemployment Public attitudes to poverty and welfare Social policies since 1997 5. The housing crisis Conclusion Chapter 8: Education Introduction 1.

New Labour''s education agenda Early years and primary education Secondary education Higher education 2. Education policy and reforms under the Coalition Government Academisation and free schools Curriculum and assessment reforms Teacher training and professional development Higher education reforms 3. New challenges: education policy in the aftermath of Brexit and Covid-19 School reforms The crisis of higher education Cyber security and artificial intelligence in education Conclusion Chapter 9: Old and New Media Introduction The evolution of traditional media: the press, television and the radio The press: decline and digital transition Television: innovation and cultural change The digital switch-over The changing role of the BBC and public service broadcasting The end of impartiality: opinion channels The rise of reality TV and entertainment formats The streaming revolution and global competition Radio: challenges and adaptation Digital transformation Commercial consolidation Community radio Changing listening habits Scandals and ethics The rise of tabloid culture and ethical challenge The phone hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry Coverage of terrorism and minority representation Covering the royal family The 2016 referendum campaign Media impartiality and the challenge of ''false balance'': the case of the BBC A digital battleground Conclusion Chapter 10: Cultural policy Introduction 1. The New Labour vision: Cool Britannia ? 2. The impact of austerity on the cultural sector 3. Two shocks: Brexit and Covid 4. The legacy of empire and culture wars Conclusion.