British Politics For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Introduction

Welcome to the fascinating world of British politics. Whether you’re a student wanting to boost your chances of getting that A grade or just want the inside track on the big issues that face not just the UK but also the wider world, this is the book for you.

I wrote this book for newcomers and students alike so that you can have a one-stop shop to get to know everything you need to know without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. I explain how Britain became the modern liberal democracy it is today. Thanks to this book, the next time you hear someone say at a dinner table, on the bus or down the pub that ‘politics is all the same’, you’ll be able to tell them why they’re wrong, and why politics and politicians make a fundamental difference to our lives.

About This Book

To make your reading experience a little easier, British Politics For Dummies follows certain rules. For example, every time I use a new term or important phrase, I italicise and explain it. The key word or term in a bulleted list is in bold so that it stands out. Occasionally, you see text in grey boxes. These sidebars are full of what I consider interesting information, but they’re not essential to understanding the topic at hand, so you can read them or not as you choose. I explain everything very clearly and try to avoid political gobbledygook.

When reading a discussion of a particular aspect of politics in one chapter, I refer to another chapter when the information there ties into the issue I’m ...