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• Extensive annotated guides to further reading and suggested questions for discussion at the end of each chapter.
  
• A greater use of illustrative material, case studies and graphics, which supplement the text in a lively manner.
  
• Clear summaries of arguments and chronologies of complex events, as well as boxes giving biographical data on significant political figures.
  
• A dedicated website, www.blackwellpublishing.com/peele, features information on the book, sample chapters, updated articles so that teachers and students can be regularly updated between editions.
  
• A range of Internet resources to encourage students to keep up-to-date with a rapidly changing subject matter.

"The 4th Edition of this well-established textbook is exemplary...the material is well structured and coverage is comprehensive, with a judicious mix of historical background and contemporary analysis. Extensive use of figures and tables bring a wealth of empirical detail to the account, and useful text-boxes explain key concepts or offer biographical sketches of important figures. This book is a must-have for any serious student of British politics." Mathew Humphrey, School of Politics, University of Nottingham

'An invaluable introduction to and guide through governing the United Kingdom in the 21st century' Dr Nicholas J. Baldwin, Dean, Wroxton College of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Gillian Peele is Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Lady Margaret Hall and University Lecturer in Politics at Oxford University. She has published widely on British and American Politics.