Contributor(s): Professor Vernon Bogdanor | Is the 2015 election different from earlier ones or is the pattern set? Is Britain moving towards more coalitions and fewer one-party governments? Professor Vernon Bogdanor considers the conduct and outcome of historic and recent general elections within the context of the 2015 contest.

Contributor(s): Professor Simon Hix | These two lectures will consider the UK’s formal relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and other European institutions. Europe has had massive impacts on UK politics which affect domestic politics, with a continuing debate about the country’s relationship with the EU.

Contributor(s): Professor Simon Hix | These two lectures will consider the UK’s formal relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and other European institutions. Europe has had massive impacts on UK politics which affect domestic politics, with a continuing debate about the country’s relationship with the EU.

Contributor(s): Professor Simon Hix | These two lectures will consider the UK’s formal relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and other European institutions. Europe has had massive impacts on UK politics which affect domestic politics, with a continuing debate about the country’s relationship with the EU.

Contributor(s): Richard Bacon MP | Richard Bacon MP looks at the accountability of government to Parliament in the light of Parliamentarians’ belief there is a need for more effective scrutiny of the executive, in particular in relation to failures of procurement contracts and/or IT systems. The role of the Public Accounts Committee is examined in detail.

Contributor(s): Professor George Jones | Professor George Jones examines the evolution of Parliamentary select committees within the UK Parliament, in particular the reforms initiated in the early 1980s. How have select committees evolved and what are their key functions today?

Contributor(s): Professor Charlie Beckett | We consider the way the press, TV and radio have traditionally been seen as a key feature of British government and politics. Can new media sustain investigative journalism and expose wrong-doing in government? Statutory restrictions on the media and the way politicians relate to powerful media organisations will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Charlie Beckett | We consider the way the press, TV and radio have traditionally been seen as a key feature of British government and politics. Can new media sustain investigative journalism and expose wrong-doing in government? Statutory restrictions on the media and the way politicians relate to powerful media organisations will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Ed Page | Will consider the ways policy is made and the processes it goes through prior to implementation. Party election manifestos, the use of special advisors, independent inquiries, think tanks, lobbyists and other elements in the evolution and delivery of government policy will be considered.

Contributor(s): Professor Ed Page | Will consider the ways policy is made and the processes it goes through prior to implementation. Party election manifestos, the use of special advisors, independent inquiries, think tanks, lobbyists and other elements in the evolution and delivery of government policy will be considered.