Since coming to power in 1997 the Labour government 's programme of constitutional reform represents an historic challenge to both British constitutional doctrine and Labour Party orthodoxy. Mark Evans examines the nature and extent of this challenge and argues that the New Constitutionalism is a key element of a policy agenda that in its most crucial aspects reflects the continuing transformation of the British industrial-welfare state into a competition state. Constitution-Making and the Labour Party analyzes key areas of reform under the Blair government from the perspective of Labour Party history and contemporary policy analysis.

MARK EVANS is Head of Politics and Provost of Halifax College at the University of York. He is the author of Charter 88: A Successful Challenge to the British Political Tradition? and Policy Transfer in Global Perspective. He has published a broad range of articles and book chapters on aspects of constitutional reform, the study of policy development and post-war reconstruction and development.