Martin Laffin
Biographic Data
| ID | 4128666 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Martin Laffin |
| GIVEN NAMES | Martin |
| FAMILY NAME | Laffin |
| SIGNATURE | LAFFIN M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Durham University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4577-0829 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 33 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 237 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 33 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1981 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 10 |
The Crisis of English Local Governance During the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Breakdown of Central Control
The UK’s policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic reveals the problems that arise in a highly centralised polity where the executive faces few countervailing political pressures. Westminster is a power-hoarding political system despite two decades of devolution. Intergovernmental relations (IGR) mechanisms of coordination and conflict resolution have struggled to cope with the realities of a severely asymmetric devolution settlement, as was glari…
How political parties matter in political-administrative relationships: Children’s services policy in England 1997–2019
Special issue on comparative intergovernmental relations and the pandemic: How European devolved governments responded to a public health crisis
This introduction and the special issue are a contribution to comparative intergovernmental studies and public administration. This introduction provides an analytical overview of the intergovernmental relations policy responses to the Covid-19 pandemic across ten European countries, focussing on the early waves of the disease. These policy responses are analysed in terms of three types of IGR process: (1) a predominantly multi-layered policy pro…
The United Kingdom and the pandemic: Problems of Central Control and Coordination
The UK policy response to Covid-19 illustrates the problems arising where (1) a central government faces few countervailing political pressures as in Westminster systems; (2) the design of intergovernmental relations (IGR) mechanisms of coordination and conflict resolution fails to cope with the realities of a severely, asymmetric devolution settlement; and (3) local government faces serious collective action problems in influencing and mobilisin…
Representing territorial diversity: The role of local government associations
This paper argues that local government associations (LGAs) form a key element in central–local relations. They contribute towards defending local discretion through their three roles: as the collective voices of local authorities; as countervailing public-interest groups; and as feedback mechanisms for central government actors. LGAs are understood as hybrid organizations and their role and influence analyzed in terms of (1) their relationship w…
Explaining reforms: Post-New Public Management myths or political realities? Social housing delivery in England and France
This article examines the assumption that recent reforms in social and public services can be understood as a transition from New Public Management to post-New Public Management. English and French social housing delivery are selected as two cases in which to test out this assumption, for ostensibly these delivery structures share significant cross-national, post-NPM similarities – a movement towards a more ‘enabling’ or steering role for central…
Planning in England: New Public Management, Network Governance or Post-Democracy
Three frameworks – New Public Management, Network Governance and Post-Democracy – are applied to identify and explain the direction of institutional travel in the field of land-use planning in England. These frameworks are used to assess the extent to which land-use planning has been centralized or decentralized over the last 20 years. The last Labour government (1997–2010) is contrasted with the Conservative-led Coalition government (2010–2015).…
A New Politics of Governance or an Old Politics of Central–local Relations? Labour's Reform of Social Housing Tenancies in England
This article questions the orthoxody that government has been eclipsed by governance and uses the reform of English social housing tenancies as a critical test of governance theory. The preconditions for governance exist in social housing as its delivery has been largely removed from local authorities and disaggregated into a multiplicity of non‐profit housing associations. Yet, contrary to the implications of governance theory, central policymak…
Central–Local Relations in an Era of Governance: Towards a New Research Agenda
Over recent years central-local relations has been a neglected topic for research in England. Local government research has mostly focused on political and institutional changes at the local level. The aim of this article is to set out a future research agenda on central-local relations which recognises how the spread of new 'governance' arrangements has changed those relations and how insights from the governance literature can shed light on tho…
Local Government Modernisation in England: A Critical Review of the LGMA Evaluation Studies
New Labour has subjected English local government to an unparalleled period of reform. This article reviews the Local Government Modernisation Agenda evaluation studies commissioned by central government. The review identifies valuable insights from the studies into the contemporary state of English local government, central government and central–local relations. However, the studies also illustrate the need for research on public service reform…
Making It Happen’ in Public Service: Devolution in Wales as a Case Study ‐ by Stephen Prosser, Michael Connolly, Rod Hough and Kathryn Potter
British Devolution and the Labour Party: How a National Party Adapts to Devolution
In 1999 the Labour government in the UK devolved significant powers to the newly created Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. This article concludes that the British Labour Party, as a national party, has not formally reorganised itself to reflect the new realities of devolution. Rather, the national ruling elite has continued to stress the importance of maintaining the valuable Labour brand to ensure the electability of the p…
The Scottish Liberal Democrats
As the junior members of the two Scottish coalition or partnership governments (1999–2003 and 2003–7), the Liberal Democrats have had a major impact on post‐devolution public policy in Scotland. Contrary to expectations, their participation as junior partners in a coalition government has enhanced rather than damaged their electoral prospects. The party's success in coalition reflects the electoral and policy compatibilities between them and Labo…
Coalition-Formation and Centre—Periphery Relations in a National Political Party: The Liberal Democrats in a Devolved Britain
The case of the British Liberal Democrats provides important evidence of the operations of national parties in devolved systems, the dynamics of sub-national coalition-formation and the impact of national parties on public policy in devolved systems. In their participation in coalition governments in Scotland and Wales, the Liberal Democrats have acted as a nationalized but not a centralized party, despite the devolved nature of their federal con…
The New Sub-National Politics of the British Labour Party
The response of national, state-level political parties to the challenges of competing for power at the devolved, regional levels is a neglected research topic. This article seeks to remedy this by analysing how the British Labour Party has responded to these challenges at the sub-national level following UK devolution. British Labour remains formally a unitary party despite devolution. Nonetheless, the national party leadership has allowed the S…
Comparative British Central-Local Relations: Regional Centralism, Governance and Intergovernmental Relations
This article examines three key, possible post-devolution trends relating to central-local relations in England, Scotland and Wales. First, the Scottish and Welsh cases indicate that devolution does not inevitably lead to regional centralism and that central-local relations at the regional or intermediate levels are less competitive and more collaborative where a power balance or symmetry exists between the intermediate and the local level. Secon…
The Future of the Public Services
A Prehistory of the Best Value Regime
Best Value was one of the central planks of New Labour's modernisation agenda for local government. This article uncovers the origins of the regime by unpicking the activities of two working groups responsible for its design. Licking its wounds in the aftermath of the 1987 General Election the Labour Party's leadership had come to see the party's record in local government as a source of increasing embarrassment. A series of policy initiatives, f…
Is Regional Centralism Inevitable? The Case of the Welsh Assembly
Laffin M. (2004) Is regional centralism inevitable? The case of the Welsh Assembly, Reg. Studies 38, 213-223. Scottish and Welsh devolution raises the question of regional centralism - can strong governments at the sub-nation state or regional level co-exist with strong local governments? The case of Wales indicates that regional centralism is not inevitable. The Welsh Assembly allows local government considerable policy influence and exercises l…
The multiple strategies of the Local Government Association: Partner, Player and Think-Tank
English The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national association for English local government. This article draws some conclusions about contemporary English central-local relations from the strategies and structures of the LGA. We test three models. The ‘partner’ model implies that the LGA is, or ought to be, in a trusting and equal relationship with the centre. The ‘bargaining’ model envisages a centre dependent on local government’s …
The First Welsh Constitutional Crisis: The Alun Michael Resignation
In February 2000 Alun Michael, the First Secretary of the eight month old National Assembly for Wales resigned when faced with the likely success of a vote of no confidence against him. In the light of the controversial leadership election twelve months earlier these events were widely perceived as a snub to the Prime Minister himself who had championed Michael over his challenger, Rhodri Morgan. However, the aim of this paper is to argue that th…
Intergovernmental Relations after Devolution: The National Assembly for Wales
New problems, old professions? The changing national world of the local government professions
English The local government professions in the UK are undergoing unprecedented change. The impact of these changes on the world of individual professional practice is already well documented. This article examines the largely neglected national role of the local government professional associations. Confronted with a rapidly changing environment we found national associations experimenting with new approaches to the defence and advancement of th…
Designing the National Assembly for Wales
Journal Article Designing the National Assembly for Wales Get access M Laffin, M Laffin University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar A Thomas A Thomas University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 53, Issue 3, July 2000, Pages 557–576, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/53.3.557 Published: 01…
Constitutional design: A Framework for Analysis
Journal Article Constitutional design: a framework for analysis Get access M Laffin M Laffin University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 53, Issue 3, July 2000, Pages 532–541, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/53.3.532 Published: 01 July 2000
The New Sub-National Politics of the British Labour Party
The response of national, state-level political parties to the challenges of competing for power at the devolved, regional levels is a neglected research topic. This article seeks to remedy this by analysing how the British Labour Party has responded to these challenges at the sub-national level following UK devolution. British Labour remains formally a unitary party despite devolution. Nonetheless, the national party leadership has allowed the S…
The United Kingdom and the pandemic: Problems of Central Control and Coordination
The UK policy response to Covid-19 illustrates the problems arising where (1) a central government faces few countervailing political pressures as in Westminster systems; (2) the design of intergovernmental relations (IGR) mechanisms of coordination and conflict resolution fails to cope with the realities of a severely, asymmetric devolution settlement; and (3) local government faces serious collective action problems in influencing and mobilisin…
Central–Local Relations in an Era of Governance: Towards a New Research Agenda
Over recent years central-local relations has been a neglected topic for research in England. Local government research has mostly focused on political and institutional changes at the local level. The aim of this article is to set out a future research agenda on central-local relations which recognises how the spread of new 'governance' arrangements has changed those relations and how insights from the governance literature can shed light on tho…
New problems, old professions? The changing national world of the local government professions
English The local government professions in the UK are undergoing unprecedented change. The impact of these changes on the world of individual professional practice is already well documented. This article examines the largely neglected national role of the local government professional associations. Confronted with a rapidly changing environment we found national associations experimenting with new approaches to the defence and advancement of th…
British Devolution and the Labour Party: How a National Party Adapts to Devolution
In 1999 the Labour government in the UK devolved significant powers to the newly created Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. This article concludes that the British Labour Party, as a national party, has not formally reorganised itself to reflect the new realities of devolution. Rather, the national ruling elite has continued to stress the importance of maintaining the valuable Labour brand to ensure the electability of the p…
A Prehistory of the Best Value Regime
Best Value was one of the central planks of New Labour's modernisation agenda for local government. This article uncovers the origins of the regime by unpicking the activities of two working groups responsible for its design. Licking its wounds in the aftermath of the 1987 General Election the Labour Party's leadership had come to see the party's record in local government as a source of increasing embarrassment. A series of policy initiatives, f…
Special issue on comparative intergovernmental relations and the pandemic: How European devolved governments responded to a public health crisis
This introduction and the special issue are a contribution to comparative intergovernmental studies and public administration. This introduction provides an analytical overview of the intergovernmental relations policy responses to the Covid-19 pandemic across ten European countries, focussing on the early waves of the disease. These policy responses are analysed in terms of three types of IGR process: (1) a predominantly multi-layered policy pro…
Is Regional Centralism Inevitable? The Case of the Welsh Assembly
Laffin M. (2004) Is regional centralism inevitable? The case of the Welsh Assembly, Reg. Studies 38, 213-223. Scottish and Welsh devolution raises the question of regional centralism - can strong governments at the sub-nation state or regional level co-exist with strong local governments? The case of Wales indicates that regional centralism is not inevitable. The Welsh Assembly allows local government considerable policy influence and exercises l…
The United Kingdom: Federalism in Denial
Journal Article The United Kingdom: Federalism in Denial? Get access Martin Laffin, Martin Laffin University of Glamorgan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Alys Thomas Alys Thomas University of Glamorgan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Volume 29, Issue 3, Summer 1999, Pages 89–108, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubjof.a0300…
Representing territorial diversity: The role of local government associations
This paper argues that local government associations (LGAs) form a key element in central–local relations. They contribute towards defending local discretion through their three roles: as the collective voices of local authorities; as countervailing public-interest groups; and as feedback mechanisms for central government actors. LGAs are understood as hybrid organizations and their role and influence analyzed in terms of (1) their relationship w…
Coalition-Formation and Centre—Periphery Relations in a National Political Party: The Liberal Democrats in a Devolved Britain
The case of the British Liberal Democrats provides important evidence of the operations of national parties in devolved systems, the dynamics of sub-national coalition-formation and the impact of national parties on public policy in devolved systems. In their participation in coalition governments in Scotland and Wales, the Liberal Democrats have acted as a nationalized but not a centralized party, despite the devolved nature of their federal con…
The multiple strategies of the Local Government Association: Partner, Player and Think-Tank
English The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national association for English local government. This article draws some conclusions about contemporary English central-local relations from the strategies and structures of the LGA. We test three models. The ‘partner’ model implies that the LGA is, or ought to be, in a trusting and equal relationship with the centre. The ‘bargaining’ model envisages a centre dependent on local government’s …
The Changing Roles and Responsibilities of Local Authority Chief Officers
This article argues that recent political change in Britain has brought about a crisis of adjustment for local government chief officers in their relationship with the elected members. Key aspects of this political change are the break‐up of the post‐war political consensus and the passing of the earlier period of growth. As the ideological distance between the two main parties has widened and the end of growth has intensified conflicts, the prof…
Comparative British Central-Local Relations: Regional Centralism, Governance and Intergovernmental Relations
This article examines three key, possible post-devolution trends relating to central-local relations in England, Scotland and Wales. First, the Scottish and Welsh cases indicate that devolution does not inevitably lead to regional centralism and that central-local relations at the regional or intermediate levels are less competitive and more collaborative where a power balance or symmetry exists between the intermediate and the local level. Secon…
Intergovernmental Relations after Devolution: The National Assembly for Wales
Explaining reforms: Post-New Public Management myths or political realities? Social housing delivery in England and France
This article examines the assumption that recent reforms in social and public services can be understood as a transition from New Public Management to post-New Public Management. English and French social housing delivery are selected as two cases in which to test out this assumption, for ostensibly these delivery structures share significant cross-national, post-NPM similarities – a movement towards a more ‘enabling’ or steering role for central…
Designing the National Assembly for Wales
Journal Article Designing the National Assembly for Wales Get access M Laffin, M Laffin University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar A Thomas A Thomas University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 53, Issue 3, July 2000, Pages 557–576, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/53.3.557 Published: 01…
Planning in England: New Public Management, Network Governance or Post-Democracy
Three frameworks – New Public Management, Network Governance and Post-Democracy – are applied to identify and explain the direction of institutional travel in the field of land-use planning in England. These frameworks are used to assess the extent to which land-use planning has been centralized or decentralized over the last 20 years. The last Labour government (1997–2010) is contrasted with the Conservative-led Coalition government (2010–2015).…
A New Politics of Governance or an Old Politics of Central–local Relations? Labour's Reform of Social Housing Tenancies in England
This article questions the orthoxody that government has been eclipsed by governance and uses the reform of English social housing tenancies as a critical test of governance theory. The preconditions for governance exist in social housing as its delivery has been largely removed from local authorities and disaggregated into a multiplicity of non‐profit housing associations. Yet, contrary to the implications of governance theory, central policymak…
Making It Happen’ in Public Service: Devolution in Wales as a Case Study ‐ by Stephen Prosser, Michael Connolly, Rod Hough and Kathryn Potter
No, Permanent Head”: Politician—bureaucrat Relationships in Victoria
The First Welsh Constitutional Crisis: The Alun Michael Resignation
In February 2000 Alun Michael, the First Secretary of the eight month old National Assembly for Wales resigned when faced with the likely success of a vote of no confidence against him. In the light of the controversial leadership election twelve months earlier these events were widely perceived as a snub to the Prime Minister himself who had championed Michael over his challenger, Rhodri Morgan. However, the aim of this paper is to argue that th…
Constitutional design: A Framework for Analysis
Journal Article Constitutional design: a framework for analysis Get access M Laffin M Laffin University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 53, Issue 3, July 2000, Pages 532–541, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/53.3.532 Published: 01 July 2000
Understanding Minister–Bureaucrat Relations: Applying Multi‐Theoretic Approaches in Public Management
The study of public management has remained theoretically limited. This article tests out the value of a multi‐theoretical approach as applied to one area of public management research — minister–bureaucrat relationships. Three models are identified — agency theory, bureaucratic politics and institutionalism. All three models are shown to provide valuable insights into the relationship and I argue that this example indicates considerable scope fo…
Let the Managers Govern: Minister‐bureaucrat Relationships in New South Wales
This article considers the relationships between ministers and chief executives in the New South Wales Liberal‐National government. It looks at how ministers have set about taking charge of the public service against the background of the new political and economic realities confronting the state government. Senior ministers have consciously sought to limit their dependence on public servants and they have used a range of strategies to do so. The…
Competition in Public Policy: The Structure Plan as Arena
The Changing Roles and Responsibilities of Local Authority Chief Officers
This article argues that recent political change in Britain has brought about a crisis of adjustment for local government chief officers in their relationship with the elected members. Key aspects of this political change are the break‐up of the post‐war political consensus and the passing of the earlier period of growth. As the ideological distance between the two main parties has widened and the end of growth has intensified conflicts, the prof…
No, Permanent Head”: Politician—bureaucrat Relationships in Victoria
Let the Managers Govern: Minister‐bureaucrat Relationships in New South Wales
This article considers the relationships between ministers and chief executives in the New South Wales Liberal‐National government. It looks at how ministers have set about taking charge of the public service against the background of the new political and economic realities confronting the state government. Senior ministers have consciously sought to limit their dependence on public servants and they have used a range of strategies to do so. The…
The Heartlands of American Government: Recent Developments in the Us States
Over recent years the American states have re‐emerged as centres of policy innovation and reasserted themselves within the federal system. In contrast, at least until Bill Clinton's accession to the presidency, the federal government has lost the initiative. Indeed, Clinton's accession from what in the past would have been regarded as an obscure southern governorship symbolises the shift of the states to the centre stage of American politics. Thi…
Understanding Minister–Bureaucrat Relations: Applying Multi‐Theoretic Approaches in Public Management
The study of public management has remained theoretically limited. This article tests out the value of a multi‐theoretical approach as applied to one area of public management research — minister–bureaucrat relationships. Three models are identified — agency theory, bureaucratic politics and institutionalism. All three models are shown to provide valuable insights into the relationship and I argue that this example indicates considerable scope fo…
New Labour and Government in Britain: Change or Continuity
The 1997 British election marks a major change in British government. Eighteen years of Conservative rule had brought about growing inequality and social division and have generated powerful demands for new directions in public policy, especially in the areas of welfare and public administration. On welfare state reform Labour is constrained by election promises to restrain taxation and public expenditure. New Labour ministers influenced by the N…
The United Kingdom: Federalism in Denial
Journal Article The United Kingdom: Federalism in Denial? Get access Martin Laffin, Martin Laffin University of Glamorgan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Alys Thomas Alys Thomas University of Glamorgan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Volume 29, Issue 3, Summer 1999, Pages 89–108, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubjof.a0300…
Intergovernmental Relations after Devolution: The National Assembly for Wales
New problems, old professions? The changing national world of the local government professions
English The local government professions in the UK are undergoing unprecedented change. The impact of these changes on the world of individual professional practice is already well documented. This article examines the largely neglected national role of the local government professional associations. Confronted with a rapidly changing environment we found national associations experimenting with new approaches to the defence and advancement of th…
Designing the National Assembly for Wales
Journal Article Designing the National Assembly for Wales Get access M Laffin, M Laffin University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar A Thomas A Thomas University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 53, Issue 3, July 2000, Pages 557–576, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/53.3.557 Published: 01…
Constitutional design: A Framework for Analysis
Journal Article Constitutional design: a framework for analysis Get access M Laffin M Laffin University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 53, Issue 3, July 2000, Pages 532–541, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/53.3.532 Published: 01 July 2000
The First Welsh Constitutional Crisis: The Alun Michael Resignation
In February 2000 Alun Michael, the First Secretary of the eight month old National Assembly for Wales resigned when faced with the likely success of a vote of no confidence against him. In the light of the controversial leadership election twelve months earlier these events were widely perceived as a snub to the Prime Minister himself who had championed Michael over his challenger, Rhodri Morgan. However, the aim of this paper is to argue that th…
The multiple strategies of the Local Government Association: Partner, Player and Think-Tank
English The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national association for English local government. This article draws some conclusions about contemporary English central-local relations from the strategies and structures of the LGA. We test three models. The ‘partner’ model implies that the LGA is, or ought to be, in a trusting and equal relationship with the centre. The ‘bargaining’ model envisages a centre dependent on local government’s …
Is Regional Centralism Inevitable? The Case of the Welsh Assembly
Laffin M. (2004) Is regional centralism inevitable? The case of the Welsh Assembly, Reg. Studies 38, 213-223. Scottish and Welsh devolution raises the question of regional centralism - can strong governments at the sub-nation state or regional level co-exist with strong local governments? The case of Wales indicates that regional centralism is not inevitable. The Welsh Assembly allows local government considerable policy influence and exercises l…
A Prehistory of the Best Value Regime
Best Value was one of the central planks of New Labour's modernisation agenda for local government. This article uncovers the origins of the regime by unpicking the activities of two working groups responsible for its design. Licking its wounds in the aftermath of the 1987 General Election the Labour Party's leadership had come to see the party's record in local government as a source of increasing embarrassment. A series of policy initiatives, f…
The Future of the Public Services
British Devolution and the Labour Party: How a National Party Adapts to Devolution
In 1999 the Labour government in the UK devolved significant powers to the newly created Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. This article concludes that the British Labour Party, as a national party, has not formally reorganised itself to reflect the new realities of devolution. Rather, the national ruling elite has continued to stress the importance of maintaining the valuable Labour brand to ensure the electability of the p…
The Scottish Liberal Democrats
As the junior members of the two Scottish coalition or partnership governments (1999–2003 and 2003–7), the Liberal Democrats have had a major impact on post‐devolution public policy in Scotland. Contrary to expectations, their participation as junior partners in a coalition government has enhanced rather than damaged their electoral prospects. The party's success in coalition reflects the electoral and policy compatibilities between them and Labo…
Coalition-Formation and Centre—Periphery Relations in a National Political Party: The Liberal Democrats in a Devolved Britain
The case of the British Liberal Democrats provides important evidence of the operations of national parties in devolved systems, the dynamics of sub-national coalition-formation and the impact of national parties on public policy in devolved systems. In their participation in coalition governments in Scotland and Wales, the Liberal Democrats have acted as a nationalized but not a centralized party, despite the devolved nature of their federal con…
The New Sub-National Politics of the British Labour Party
The response of national, state-level political parties to the challenges of competing for power at the devolved, regional levels is a neglected research topic. This article seeks to remedy this by analysing how the British Labour Party has responded to these challenges at the sub-national level following UK devolution. British Labour remains formally a unitary party despite devolution. Nonetheless, the national party leadership has allowed the S…
Comparative British Central-Local Relations: Regional Centralism, Governance and Intergovernmental Relations
This article examines three key, possible post-devolution trends relating to central-local relations in England, Scotland and Wales. First, the Scottish and Welsh cases indicate that devolution does not inevitably lead to regional centralism and that central-local relations at the regional or intermediate levels are less competitive and more collaborative where a power balance or symmetry exists between the intermediate and the local level. Secon…
Local Government Modernisation in England: A Critical Review of the LGMA Evaluation Studies
New Labour has subjected English local government to an unparalleled period of reform. This article reviews the Local Government Modernisation Agenda evaluation studies commissioned by central government. The review identifies valuable insights from the studies into the contemporary state of English local government, central government and central–local relations. However, the studies also illustrate the need for research on public service reform…
Making It Happen’ in Public Service: Devolution in Wales as a Case Study ‐ by Stephen Prosser, Michael Connolly, Rod Hough and Kathryn Potter
Central–Local Relations in an Era of Governance: Towards a New Research Agenda
Over recent years central-local relations has been a neglected topic for research in England. Local government research has mostly focused on political and institutional changes at the local level. The aim of this article is to set out a future research agenda on central-local relations which recognises how the spread of new 'governance' arrangements has changed those relations and how insights from the governance literature can shed light on tho…
Political science (31 works) · Law (26 works) · Public Administration (25 works) · Law (23 works) · Sociology (23 works) · Politics (22 works) · Public Administration (21 works) · Government (linguistics (17 works) · Political economy (15 works) · Political Systems and Governance (14 works)