{"title":"Nick Cowen","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"trust-harrison-book-nick-cowen-9781906978341","title":"Trust Harrison","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49609184444689,"sku":"GOR013576226","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49738289414417,"sku":"NGR9781906978341","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50856743108881,"sku":"GOR009792373","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52656610935057,"sku":"NLS9781906978341","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1906978344.jpg?v=1750769916"},{"product_id":"total-recall-book-nick-cowen-9781906837013","title":"Total Recall","description":"Members of Parliament have traditionally enjoyed total legislative supremacy in the United Kingdom, able to pass or rescind any law of the land. Most citizens of Britain probably think that this is still the case. However, in this worrying examination of the dilution of the sovereignty of parliament by its own members, Nick Cowen shows how they have slowly ceded their powers to ministers, government agencies and the European Union. In 2006, parliament almost abolished itself by accident. Many of the laws that govern the lives of people in Britain are made by people who never have to stand for election, and who may not even live in the country. This is a serious threat to the Mother of Parliaments, and to the liberty of the people. However, given the craven willingness of MPs to delegate their powers, what is the remedy? Direct democracy, as developed in Switzerland and especially the USA, allows citizens to stay in charge even after Election Day.  Through the use of referendums, initiatives, recalls, termlimits, local charters and grand juries, citizens are able to put a break on bad laws, dispose of politicians who betray their election promises and eject officials found helping themselves from the public purse. Nick Cowen argues that we should introduce these mechanisms to the UK to ensure a more accountable government and, more importantly, a government that can't hand its powers to anyone other than back to the people of Britain.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49651437011217,"sku":"GOR002975652","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1906837015.jpg?v=1751155851"},{"product_id":"tour-in-search-of-gold-through-parts-of-wiltshire-in-1808-book-nick-cowen-9780946418954","title":"A Tour in Search of Gold Through Parts of Wiltshire in 1808","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50018027438353,"sku":"GOR013837314","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0946418950.jpg?v=1751423653"},{"product_id":"this-way-not-that-way-book-nick-cowen-9781906978754","title":"This Way not That Way","description":"\u003cp\u003eA strange interdependence has been forged between local authority lifer, Victor Wayland, public rights of way officer and the enigmatic Harrison, a young and streetwise volunteer. Harrison and his gang have torn up the volunteer's rule book and are finding their own ways and means to sort out the thornier issues of public rights of way maintenance. Meanwhile Victor is really starting to feel part of something.he's just not sure what that something is.and can a sedentary population really be persuaded to heave themselves up from the sofa and take their first steps towards walking back to happiness? They will if\u003cbr\u003e Harrison has got anything to do with it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":50536498692369,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50536499216657,"sku":"GOR011300650","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52657009099025,"sku":"NLS9781906978754","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1906978751.jpg?v=1751061069"},{"product_id":"parish-waywarden-book-nick-cowen-9781914407505","title":"The Parish Waywarden","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51054984823057,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51054987378961,"sku":"NIN9781914407505","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52332141969681,"sku":"NLS9781914407505","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52517224710417,"sku":"GOR014547587","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1914407504.jpg?v=1751092981"},{"product_id":"swedish-lessons-book-nick-cowen-9781903386675","title":"Swedish Lessons","description":"Improving the educational outcomes of children from low-income backgrounds is crucial to tackling Britain's lack of social mobility. However, after more than a decade of New Labour's initiatives, and with spending on education now at record levels in real terms, the gap between low-income children and middle-class children has actually widened. Middle-class parents can exercise choice to a greater degree than low-income parents. Some opt out of the state system altogether and choose independent schools. Many more make sure they are living within the catchment areas of good state schools, and use their social skills to negotiate the increasingly complex admission procedures.Other nations organise things differently. The Swedes have developed an approach to education that provides choice for all parents, regardless of income. Funding follows the child, and parents can choose which school their child attends. Independent providers, either charitable or commercial, can receive payment from the state on the same terms as state schools. The results have been impressive. In areas where independent providers operate, standards are driven up in all schools. Children with special educational needs and children of immigrants have benefited noticeably. The policy, introduced in 1992, is well established and popular with parents. 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