Red Tape tells the sometimes astonishing story of the making of laws, both good and bad, the recent explosion in rule making, and the failure of repeated attempts to rationalise the statute books - even governments themselves are concerned about the increasing number and complexity of our laws. Society requires the rule of law, but the rule of too much law means that the general public faces frustrating excesses created by overzealous regulators and lawmakers. Robin Ellison reveals the failure of repeated attempts to limit the number and complexity of new laws, and the expansion of regulators. He challenges the legislature to introduce fewer yet better laws and regulators by encouraging lawmakers to adopt practices which improve the efficiency of the law and the lives of everyone. Too much law leads to frustration for all - Red Tape is a long overdue exposé of our legal system for practitioners and consumers alike.

'… highly readable and well organised despite the dry subject matter. The author brings his legal training to the task: the tone is authoritative and balanced, with copious notes, references and a proper glossary, bibliography and index … Red Tape is an essential text for anyone at all interested in the topic … I feel so strongly about this matter that I intend to send a free copy of the book to every MP in the government in the hope that they restrain their zeal for law making.' Luke Johnson, The Sunday Times

Robin Ellison is a solicitor, a consultant with an international law firm, Pinsent Masons, where he specialises in the development of pensions and related financial services products for insurers and other providers, and is the Cass Business School Professor of Pensions Law and Economics, University of London. He acts for a number of governments and government agencies and has been an adviser to the House of Commons Select Committee on Work and Pensions.