Reorganizations have provided fertile ground for researchers and pract
itioners seeking to draw lessons about the nature of public administra
tion. The review leading to the reorganization of British local govern
ment in 1991-96 sustains the tradition. In an extraordinary unfolding
of events key features of the policy and political system are laid bar
e. This article provides a background analysis of the review, examines
the main turning points in the process, assesses the performance of k
ey players and concludes with a judgement about the sustainability of
the settlement that ultimately emerged. A number of lessons are drawn
about the nature of the British political system as revealed through t
he impact of the challenge of a large-scale structural review of local
government.