Public Law Within Government : Sustaining the Art of the Possible

This book casts a spotlight on a vital but poorly understood feature of the political process: the functioning within government of the public law rules that define and constrain it. Drawing on rich source material--one local authority's involvement in the epic central/local confrontation over local government spending in 1980s England--the book develops a multifaceted, timeless and widely applicable analysis of public law within government as a process of sustaining the art of the possible. Public Law Within Government Casts A Spotlight On A Vital But Poorly Understood Feature Of The Political Process: The Functioning Within Government Of The Public Law Principles That Condition Government Action. Probing Deep Into The Inner Workings Of An English Local Authority In The High Political Drama Of The Thatcher Years, Yet Also Firmly Anchored In The Broad International Common Ground Of Public Law And Government Structures, The Book Presents A Fresh And Compelling Analysis Of Public Law Within Government As An Ever Adapting Process Of 1sustaining The Art Of The Possible2. Based On Both Public And Internal Sources, And Informed By The Author's Professional Understanding As A Government Lawyer, This One-of-a-kind Study Is Both Readily Accessible To New Readers In The Field And Full Of New Insights For The Specialist. Introduction -- The Ultra Vires Rule: Its Substance And Significance -- Out With The Old: The 1980 Budget -- In With The New: The 1981 Budget -- A Heightened Awareness: The 1982 Budget -- Leftward, Ho: The 1983 Budget -- Pressing Ahead: The 1984 Budget -- Rate-capped And Resistant: The 1985 Budget -- Aftermath: The 1986 Budget -- Victim Of Circumstance: The 1987 Budget -- 'policy-capped': The 1988 Budget -- Out With The Old, Again: The 1989 Budget And Beyond -- Conclusion. T.p.b. Rattenbury. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 235-242) And Index. "Public Law within Government casts a spotlight on a vital but poorly understood feature of the political process: the functioning within government of the public law principles that condition government action." "Probing deep into the inner workings of an English local authority in the high political drama of the Thatcher years, yet also firmly anchored in the broad international common ground of public law and government structures, the book presents a fresh and compelling analysis of public law within government as an ever adapting process of 'sustaining the art of the possible'." "Based on both public and internal sources, and informed by the author's professional understanding as a government lawyer, this one-of-a-kind study is both readily accessible to new readers in the field and full of new insights for the specialist."--Jacket Drawing on rich source material - one local authority's involvement in the epic central/local confrontation over local government spending in 1980s England - this book develops a multifaceted and widely applicable analysis of public law within government as a process of 'sustaining the art of the possible'.