Britain at the Polls 2010

'The Britain at the Polls series always asks-and answers, often with new insights-the key questions about British general elections. And few elections in living memory pose as many big questions as that of May 2010.' - Martin Kettle, The Guardian



'For decades Britain at the Polls has given us high quality insights into British elections. This latest edition is the most significant and intriguing of all: an excellent cast of contributors provide a vivid and accessible presentation of evidence with an engaging clarity of writing and depth of analysis. It should prove invaluable not only for academics, but students, journalists and anyone who wants to understand a unique, game-changing election.' - Geoffrey Evans, Nuffield College, Oxford








'Britain at the Polls 2010 is an essential guide to a highly unusual election. The authors provide detailed coverage of the major developments within and between the parties, the issues that shaped the election and-perhaps most importantly-some long-term trends in public opinion that might explain New Labour's slow but steady decline since the late 1990s. Detailed, yet highly accessible, this book should be read by anyone interested in the what, when and why of this remarkable event in British politics.' - Kai Arzheimer, Professor of Empirical Political Science, University of Mainz





'This is an outstanding collection of papers by an outstanding cast of authors. It tells the story of the remarkable election of 2010 to be sure, but it also makes general patterns in British politics much more understandable. I heartily endorse it.' - Christopher Wlezien, Professor of Political Science, Temple University, Philadelphia





'This volume is a worthy contribution to a long-running and valuable series of post-election analyses. It provides insights which are of immediate interest, and in coming years it will be a useful reference for those who want to recall 'what really happened' in the important election of 2010. - Susan Scarrow, University of Houston








The latest book in the long-running Britain at the Polls series provides an indispensible and incisive review of the extraordinary 2010 UK general election. Leading experts chart the path from Tony Blair's reelection in 2005 to the collapse of the Labour vote and the formation of the first coalition government since 1945. Topics covered include Gordon Brown's premiership, David Cameron's leadership of a resurgent Conservative party, the effects of the financial crisis and the parliamentary expenses scandal, and the drama of the UK's first ever televised leaders' debates. The book analyses the impact of these factors and others on the election and looks ahead to assess how the coalition government-and British politics-will adapt in the new political and economic environment.