THE UKS CHANGING DEMOCRACY

The UK&rsquo,s Changing Democracy presents a uniquely democratic perspective on all aspects of UK politics, at the centre in Westminster and Whitehall, and in all the devolved nations.The 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU marked a turning point in the UK&rsquo,s political system. In the previous two decades, the country had undergone a series of democratic reforms, during which it seemed to evolve into a more typical European liberal democracy. The establishment of a Supreme Court, adoption of the Human Rights Act, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolution, proportional electoral systems, executive mayors and the growth in multi-party competition all marked profound changes to the British political tradition.Brexit may now bring some of these developments to a juddering halt. The UK&rsquo,s previous &lsquo,exceptionalism&rsquo, from European patterns looks certain to continue indefi nitely. &lsquo,Taking back control&rsquo, of regulations, trade, immigration and much more is the biggest change in UK governance for half a century. It has already produced enduring crises for the party system, Parliament and the core executive, with uniquely contested governance over critical issues, and a rapidly changing political landscape. Other recent trends are no less fast-moving, such as the revival of two-party dominance in England, the re-creation of some mass membership parties and the disruptive challenges of social media.In this context, an in-depth assessment of the quality of the UK&rsquo,s democracy is essential. Each of the 2018 Democratic Audit&rsquo,s 37 short chapters starts with clear criteria for what democracy requires in that part of the nation&rsquo,s political life and outlines key recent developments before a SWOT analysis (of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) crystallises the current situation. A small number of core issues are then explored in more depth.Set against the global rise of debased s