Britain at the polls 2010, published today by SAGE, tells the story of the extraordinary events leading up to and encompassing the general election of 2010. It aims to provide readers not only with the background and story of this remarkable and landmark election but also with informed reflections on the election's long-term significance.
The 2010 general election was one of the most remarkable in recent history. Taking place against the backdrop of enormous economic and political turbulence, it offered, for the first time since 1997, when New Labour ousted the Conservatives, the real possibility of a change in government. With analysis of the major social, economic and political developments during the 2005-2010 period, Britain at the polls 2010 assesses the impact of these developments on the election outcome. The title includes chapters that examine, amongst other issues, how David Cameron made his party electable, why Nick Clegg was able to bring his party into a coalition with the Conservatives, and how the newfound embrace of the televised election debates impacted upon the campaign and final outcome.
'This book is about the extraordinary story of this election and the no less striking saga of its epilogue' writes John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, in the foreword. 'It is in many ways the most valuable of the wonderful Britain at the Polls series precisely because this was not a parliament, an election campaign or a set of results which can be dismissed as wholly predictable. There is an urgent need to discern not merely what happened on polling day but why it happened.'
As the authors state in their preface, 'General elections are not just stories in their own right. They are also chapters in the unfolding story of British democracy'.
This title is embargoed until 00:01hrs GMT November 19th, 2010 for a copy please contact jayne.fairley@sagepub.co.uk
Britain at the polls 2010 is published today, 19th November.
Paperback ISBN: 9781849208468 Price: £17.99
http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book234980
SAGE is a leading international publisher of journals, books, and electronic media for academic, educational, and professional markets. Since 1965, SAGE has helped inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students spanning a wide range of subject areas including business, humanities, social sciences, and science, technology, and medicine. An independent company, SAGE has principal offices in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC. www.sagepublications.com