Abstract
At the time of writing, the expectation is that a general election will take place in the spring of 2010 and that there will be a significant shift in the balance of power within parliament. While the sense of fin de siecle is not quite as strong as experienced in spring 1997, there is no doubt that a change in management and tone is approaching and such a time provides an opportunity for reflection about the past and contemplation of what the future might hold for research, policy making and practice.