I realised very recently that I've basically no idea how the government of the United Kingdom works, and that as long as I have no idea, it's slightly disingenuous of me to rail against it. Or at least that's how I feel.
What are some books that would teach me the workings of that most insidious of machines?
My basis was UK Politics Fifth Edition (Revised for New Labour!) from 2004. The judiciary stuff is a bit outdated since a lot of constitutional law has since been revised.
Any textbook will do. Only when you have a working knowledge of the political science will reading assessments and insider memoirs have much value.
The British constitution is uncodified, and constitutional precedent comes from a variety of sources including statute law and common law. The bit you'll be most interested in, though, are the "works of authority" - books which people have written about how Britain works that are so good we've just kind of accepted them as gospel. All of these works are pretty antiquated, but by far the most accessible is Bagehot's "The English Constitution".
In it, you get a strong sense of the importance of separation of powers - each organ of government fulfilling a deliberate and distinct function; and contributing to a sort of equillibrium. Use that as your starting point, then clue yourself up on how the system works now. Maybe try reading a serious political journal semi regularly - even Private Eye would do, and that comes with the added benefit of being bloody funny. You get a genuine sense of how the "ideal" system posited by Bagehot has evolved and adapted to changing historical circumstances.
It would also be worth studying some British political thought in the abstract - Hobbes, Locke, Halifax. Also, memoirs from British political leaders like Thatcher, Disraeli and even fringe elements like John Tyndall and Enoch Powell.
If all of this seems thoroughly muddled, subjective, slightly antiquarian and relying over-much on personal initiative and guesswork; then congrats! You're starting to get a real idea of British politics.
