Beyond Westminster: Finding Hope in Britain

Amid stories of doom and gloom, in 1993 Paddy Ashdown set off to see for himself what was going on in Britain. He travelled up and down the country - from Cornwall to Orkney - spending time on housing estates, in schools and factories, with social workers and policemen, working alongside miners, dustmen, farmers and fishermen, talking to pensioners, gay rights activists, town planners, schoolchildren. And he discovered an astonishing and unexpected fund of strength, courage and resourcefulness. This book is a journal of his travels and paints a vivid portrait of Britain today. All is far from well - the recession has hit hard and daily life for millions is a struggle. But time and time again, the author was struck by the way that local communities have found ways forward, ingenious solutions to problems that from Westminster look insoluble.