A Short History Of The Liberal Party 1900 1997

Ten years have now passed since the birth of the Liberal Democrats in 1988. Under the widely-acclaimed leadership of Paddy Ashdown the party now has over 5,000 councillors and its strongest parliamentary presence since the days of Lloyd George. The changing fortunes of the Liberals, from the landslide victory of 1906 through the divisions and decline of the interwar years to the repeated revivals since Orpington, are the subject of this highly topical and authoritative history. This concise survey examines not only the electoral fortunes of the party (including a detailed analysis of its broad advance in the 1997 election) but also the personalities, policies and prospects of the contemporary party in the changed political landscape of the late 1990s. Although a book designed for students of history and politics, this timely volume will be essential reading for journalists, political commentators and party activists - indeed, for all those interested in the Liberal Democrat performance in the 1997 election and their prospects as the new century approaches.

Once teetering on the brink of oblivion, the British Liberal Party has again re-established itself as a major force in national and local politics. David Dutton's approachable study offers new insights into the waning, near death and ultimate recovery of the Liberal Party from 1900 to the present day. Discussions of politics, philosophy and performance are all skilfully interwoven as Dutton demonstrates how the party has become, once more, a formidable player on the political stage. The second edition of this established text offers: - An entirely new chapter on the coalition government - A chronology of key events - Numerous suggestions for further reading This lively survey of British Liberalism from the era of Campbell-Bannerman to that of Nick Clegg reviews existing literature while offering its own distinctive perspective on one of the most compelling of political dramas.

This volume brings together for the first time the British Liberal Political Party General Election Manifestos, dating back to 1900, and including the most recent General Election manifesto of 1997. The project provides an indispensible source of data about the Liberal Party's political ideologies and policy positions, as well as charting their changes over time. The volume has a new introduction written by Duncan Brack, who is Programmes Director at the Royal Institute of International Affairs. He was previously the Policy Director for the Liberal Democrats and editor of the Dictionary of Liberal Biography, published by Politicos in February 1999. In addition to the new introduction, the volume has a comprehensive index, making it easy to use.

In The Big Red Machine, astute Liberal observer Stephen Clarkson tells the story of the Liberal Party's performance in the last nine elections, providing essential historical context for each and offering incisive, behind-the-scenes detail about how the party has planned, changed, and executed its successful electoral strategies. Arguing that the Liberal Party has opportunistically straddled the political centre since Sir John A. Macdonald -- leaning left or moving right and as circumstances required -- Clarkson also shows that the party's grip on power is becoming increasingly uncertain, having lost its appeal not just in the West, but now in Qu�bec. Its campaigns now reflect the splintering of the party system and the integration of Canada into the global economy.