The Politics of Public Inquiries

Public inquiries are a ubiquitous part of political life in Britain. When major crises occur, calls for a "full and public inquiry" often follow. Recent inquiries have investigated the government’s handling of the Covid-19 Pandemic, abuses committed by undercover police, the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, the Grenfell Tower fire, and the Infected Blood scandal. The high-profile nature of these events has ensured the salience of post-crisis inquiries within British public life has never been greater.

This book provides the first systematic study of the politics of public inquiries in Britain. Drawing on a rich trove of archival material, parliamentary debates and inquiry reports, it assesses why politicians call inquiries and the role of inquiries within the broader state system. In exploring these issues, the book reveals the indispensable role inquiries play within attempts to quell the intense public pressure that is placed on governing elites in moments of crisis, inquiries' role within blame displacement strategies, and how inquiries figure in attempts to maintain elite autonomy over policy-making in the face of demands for change. Following this, the book explores the changing politics of public inquiries in the twenty-first century and the era of anti-politics, populism, and the crisis of liberal democracy.

The book is important reading for all those interested in British politics, public policy, and public administration.