Law in Context: Democracy Distorted Wealth, Influence and Democratic Politics

High-profile controversies surrounding the funding of political parties have shown how inequalities in wealth can enter the political process.

The growth of the professional lobbying of MPs and the executive raises similar questions about money in politics. More broadly, inequalities emerge in terms of the opportunities the public have to participate in political debate. This analysis of the ways wealth can be used to influence politics in Britain explores the threat posed to the principle of political equality.

As well as examining lobbying and party funding, the discussion also focuses on the ownership and control of the media, the chance to be heard on the internet and the impact of the privatisation of public spaces on rights to assemble and protest. Looking at this range of political activities, the author proposes various strategies designed to protect the integrity of British democracy and stop inequalities in wealth becoming inequalities in politics.

• Brings law into a practical context, avoiding technical legal discussion
• Connects areas that are normally considered separately, providing a new basis for comparison
• Discusses democratic theory and free speech theory, providing a theoretical framework to aid analysis of the various areas