Centralisation, devolution and the future of local government in England

Introduction : the plight of local government and central-local relations -- The justification for local government -- How the past can inform the present : five stages in the development of local government -- The myth of localism -- Central-local relations : an interpretation -- The need for constitutional change -- Rethinking local government finance -- Politics, parties and local democracy -- Central-local relations and local government reorganisation -- The devolution agenda -- Reflections and conclusions

Introduction : the plight of local government and central-local relations -- The justification for local government -- How the past can inform the present : five stages in the development of local government -- The myth of localism -- Central-local relations : an interpretation -- The need for constitutional change -- Rethinking local government finance -- Politics, parties and local democracy -- Central-local relations and local government reorganisation -- The devolution agenda -- Reflections and conclusions.