This book examines the politics and policies of the Major governments from 1990 to 1997. It examines how and why the Major governments sought to reform the civil service, local government, education, social security, and industrial relations, and the extent to which such reform constituted a continuation of Thatcherism. It also considers the problems experienced by John Major in leading and managing the parliamentary Conservative party, with Europe proving particularly problematic for his premiership.

Introduction: John Major: One of Us?; P.Dorey Chaos or Cohesion? John Major and the Parliamentary Conservative Party; P.Cowley A Permanent Revolution in Whitehall: The Major Governments and the Civil Service; K.Theakston Centralization and Fragmentation: John Major and the Reform of Local Government; J.Kingdom A Return to the Philosophy of Consultation? The Major Premiership and Organized Interests; R.Baggott & V.McGregor-Riley Strategic Errors and/or Structural Binds? John Major and Europe; D.Wincott, J.Buller & C.Hay Renewed Hope for Peace? John Major and Northern Ireland; C.Norton Defender of the Union: John Major and Devolution; J. BarryJones The 3Rs; Reform, Reproach and Rancour: Education Policies under John Major; P.Dorey Rolling Back the (Welfare) State: The Major Governments and Social Security Reform; M.Hill No Return to Beer and Sandwiches: Industrial Relations and Employment Policies under John Major; P.Dorey The Limits of Likeability: John Major and Public Opinion; D.Broughton Despair and Disillusion Abound: The Major Premiership in Perspective; P.Dorey Bibliography Chronology Index

ROB BAGGOTT Reader in Public Policy, De Montford University, Leicester
JIM BULLER Lecturer in Politics, Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham
DAVID BROUGHTON Lecturer in Politics, School of European Studies, Cardiff University
PHILIP COWLEY Lecturer in Politics, University of Hull, and Research Secretary, Centre for Legislative Studies
COLIN HAY Lecturer, Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham, and Visiting Fellow, Department of Political Science, MIT
MICHAEL HILL Visiting Professor, Department of Social Policy and Politics, Goldsmiths College, University of London, and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
J. BARRY JONES Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of European Studies, Cardiff University
JOHN KINGDOM Reader in Politics, Sheffield Hallam University
VICTORIA MCGREGOR-RILEY Lecturer in Public Policy, Department of Health and Continuing Professional Studies, De Montford University, Leicester
CHRISTOPHER NORTON Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Wolverhampton
KEVIN THEAKSTON Reader in Government, University of Leeds
DANIEL WINCOTT Lecturer, Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham