Steve Leach is Professor of Local Government at Leicester Business School, De Montfort University.

• Parties and politics in local government: 'the elephant in the room'?; The national parties and local government; Modernisation, democratic renewal and elected mayors; Local executive government: the impact of the 'cabinet and leader' model; Councillors: servants of the people?; The changing role of local political leadership; The dynamics of party groups; The dynamics of inter-party relations; The role of local party networks; The future of political parties in local government.

"Steve Leach is one of the leading lights in the study of politics at the local level, and his latest book is a valuable contribution to our part of the political scene." Local Government First

Steve Leach is Professor of Local Government at Leicester Business School, De Montfort University.

• Parties and politics in local government: 'the elephant in the room'?; The national parties and local government; Modernisation, democratic renewal and elected mayors; Local executive government: the impact of the 'cabinet and leader' model; Councillors: servants of the people?; The changing role of local political leadership; The dynamics of party groups; The dynamics of inter-party relations; The role of local party networks; The future of political parties in local government.

"Steve Leach is one of the leading lights in the study of politics at the local level, and his latest book is a valuable contribution to our part of the political scene." Local Government First

Steve Leach is Professor of Local Government at Leicester Business School, De Montfort University.

• Parties and politics in local government: 'the elephant in the room'?; The national parties and local government; Modernisation, democratic renewal and elected mayors; Local executive government: the impact of the 'cabinet and leader' model; Councillors: servants of the people?; The changing role of local political leadership; The dynamics of party groups; The dynamics of inter-party relations; The role of local party networks; The future of political parties in local government.

"Steve Leach is one of the leading lights in the study of politics at the local level, and his latest book is a valuable contribution to our part of the political scene." Local Government First