Leaders, Parties and Voters by Andrew Denham

Leaders, Parties and Voters by Andrew Denham

This book examines the development of political leadership in Britain since the 1970s, in the context of changes within and between parties large and small and increasingly volatile voters.

Contemporary media commentary on British politics is dominated by party leaders. Yet their visibility has been matched by unprecedented vulnerability to challenge, thanks not least to recent changes in the ways that they are chosen. This book focuses on the evidence and themes which are most relevant to an understanding of contemporary British politics. Accordingly, it addresses a series of broader questions, namely:

• Why have party leaders become increasingly important in recent years?
• What do party leadership contests tell us about the nature of political parties themselves in contemporary Britain?
• What impact have such contests had in terms of democratic choice for the electorate as a whole and the legitimacy of leaders chosen by significant UK parties?
• Why has there been such a rapid turnover of British party leaders in recent years?

This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and interested readers of British politics, British political history, executive politics and political parties.

“An incisive account of British party leadership, this book connects leaders, parties and voters in an age of instabilityIt is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the changing dynamics of modern British politics.”

Timothy Heppell, University of Leeds, UK

“With characteristic vim and verve, Denham and Garnett take us on a lively journey through the last half century of Britain's political history, organised around the triumphs and tribulations of party leaders, their supporters, and their opponents. Unflinching in their characterisations, the authors challenge previous assumptions with the confidence and authority that comes from their years of scholarship.”

Richard Johnson, Queen Mary, University of London, UK, and co-host of the Since Attlee and Churchill podcast

“This is an excellent and well-argued intellectually convincing study of leaders and leadership selection in British politics. It shines light on selectorate motivations and their disparate relationships with their party and the wider voter-bases, thereby highlighting how and why specific leadership choices are made. The authors have produced an important text that evaluates the democratic structures of the parties and their respective selectorates. This makes it a vital analysis for students of all levels who are interested in the academic study of UK party politics and leadership.”

Andrew S. Roe-Crines, University of Liverpool, UK

Andrew Denham is Reader in Government at the University of Nottingham, UK.

Mark Garnett is the author of numerous books and articles on British politics and has taught at several UK universities.