The 51st US state? Labour relations in the UK fast-food industry

Politicians of most political persuasions have at different times emphasized the importance of the UKs special relationship with the US, something that was arguably at its peak during World War II and under the Conservative Thatcher governments of the 1980s and early 1990s. Under the Thatcher administrations, government policy appeared to be drawing strongly on the US economic model and trying to move away from Europe; indeed the special relationshiphas often been cited as one reason why Britain should not be part of Europe at all. Yet, perhaps somewhat paradoxically, American policy since the 1940s has tended to be in the other direction, that is to encourage Britain to become more, not less, involved in Europe (Palmer, 1988).