In this account of the dilemmas and ambiguities of the 20th-century British Left, David Marquand explores the origins and implications of the central paradox of British democracy. In the 19th century the vote was championed by radicals and opposed by conservatives, yet, since universal adult suffrage came to Britain, Conservative or Conservative-dominated governments have held power for more than 70% of the time. The author was a Labour MP for 11 years before taking part in the creation of the SDP. His previous books include Ramsay MacDonald and The Unprincipled Society.