The British Political Tradition: Explaining the Fate of New Labour's Constitutional Reform Agenda

Abstract

In two books and a number of articles, Bevir and Rhodes offer an interpretive approach to the study of politics generally, and British politics particularly, with which anyone interested in understanding British politics has to engage. Here, we focus upon one key element of Bevir and Rhodes' analysis, their emphasis on the role traditions plays in any interpretation and explanation of British politics. We argue, contra Bevir and Rhodes, that: (i) there is a dominant British Political Tradition that underpins the institutions and processes of British Government; (ii) this dominant tradition fits very happily with the interests of politicians and civil servants; (iii) challenges to it have to be made within the context of both the institutions and processes underpinned by that view and the continued dominance of this view, particularly in the thinking of politicians and civil servants. The argument is used to explain the fate of New Labour's constitutional reform agenda.