This book is the first thorough analysis of the role of local politics in local government to be published since Gyford, Leach and Game (1989). It draws on a range of funded research projects carried out by the author between 1995 and 2005 including ‘New patterns of local politics’ (ESRC 1996), member-officer relations (LGIU 1999), new constitutions (DETR 2002), overview and scrutiny (ODPM 2003) and political leadership (Joseph Rowntree foundation 2005), plus the author's own experience of working with a range of local authorities over this period.