The Oxford Handbook of British Politics has been conceived, not just to illustrate both the breadth and depth of scholarship that is to be found within the field, but also to demonstrate the vibrancy and critical self-reflection that has cultivated a much sharper and engaging, and notably less insular, approach to the terrain it seeks to explore and understand. In showcasing the diversity now found in the analysis of British politics, the Handbook is built upon three foundations. The first principle that underpins the volume is a broad understanding of the political. It covers a much broader range of topics, themes, and issues than would commonly be found within a book on British politics. This emphasis on an inclusive approach also characterises the second principle that has shaped this collection namely, diversity in relation to commissioned authors. The final principle focuses on the distinctiveness of the study of British politics. Each article seeks to reflect on what is distinctive both in terms of the empirical nature of the issue of concern, and the theories and methods that have been deployed to unravel the nature and causes of the debate. This Handbook draws upon the intellectual strengths of the study of British politics, reflects the innate diversity and inclusiveness of the discipline, isolates certain distinctive issues and then reflects on their broader international relevance, and finally looks to the future by pointing towards emerging or overlooked areas of research.