Neither Left Nor Right: The Liberal Democrats and the ElectorateThis book provides a comprehensive account of the nature of Liberal Democrat electoral politics in contemporary Britain, and explores the specific challenges facing the Liberal Democrats in their struggle for identity, distinctiveness and votes, as well as examining the different layers of the party in terms of structure, strategy and representation. It provides a detailed history of the party, from the grassroots to the leadership and considers the anatomy of the party's vote. A series of eight case studies highlight how the Liberal Democrats continue to operate differently in various contexts, geographies, and against political opponents and demonstrates how local strategies were adopted in the 1997 and 2001 general elections. |
Contents
Tables | 3 |
Liberal performance in British General Elections 190087 | 20 |
The Liberal Democrats and the electorate | 87 |
Vote by class 19742001 | 91 |
selfperception 11819 | 118 |
Vote of individuals agreeing with Liberal Democrat position | 124 |
1a Liberal seats 1929 | 144 |
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Common terms and phrases
1997 General Election 2001 General Election Aberdeen South activists ALDC Alliance areas Ashdown base Britain British Election Study British politics by-election campaign candidates cent centre party Chapter Charles Kennedy coalition Colchester community politics Conservative and Labour constituency context council councillors credibility gap Devon North Election Study surveys electoral system equidistance favour Federal party Figure grassroots heartland seats identified ideological increased issues Labour Party Labour voters leader leadership Lib-Dem Liberal Democrat seats Liberal Democrat success Liberal Democrat support Liberal Democrat vote Liberal Party Liberal voting major parties marginal Montgomeryshire Nearest LDs Nick Harvey nonconformity organisation Paddy Paddy Ashdown parliament parliamentary party party's popular position potential proximity regions representation Scotland Scottish Scottish Liberal Democrats seats won significant Simon Hughes social south west structure Table tactical voting target seats third party Thorpe tion traditional variables victory vote Liberal Democrat vote share Westminster