1. The Background to British Elections
a. The Origins: Parliament and the Early Franchise
b. Widening the Franchise: the Parliamentary Reform Movement
c. The Campaign for Women's Suffrage
d. The Electoral Reform Debate: 1918-2011
e. The Constituencies
f. The Electorate
g. The Regulations of Elections: Cost, Conduct, Corrupt Practices etc
2. British General Elections: From the Glorious Revolution to the First World War
a. The Earliest Elections (to 1714)
b. The Ancien Regime Elections, 1714-1832
c. Elections in the Age of Reform, 1832-1885
d. Late Victorian and Edwardian Elections, 1886-1914
3. Modern British Elections, 1918-2010
a. Inter-War Elections, 1918-35
b. Elections in a Two-Party Era, 1945-74
c. Contemporary Elections, 1974-2010
4. By-Elections: The Barometer of Public Opinion
a. Introduction: Nature and Significance
b. Chronology and Outline
c. Key By-Elections (30 Famous Contests)
5. Local Elections
a. The Franchise
b. The Victorian Era
c. Elections and Party Politics, 1906-45
d. Modern Local Elections since 1945
6. European Elections
7. Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly
8. Referenda
9. Biographical Companion
10. Glossary of Key Terms
11. Maps
Bibliographical note
Index
Biography
Chris Cook is a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics. His publications include By-Elections in British Politics with John Ramsden (1973), the Dictionary of Historical Terms (1998) and, most recently, The Routledge Guide to British Political Archives (2006), The Slump: Society and Politics in the Depression with John Stevenson (2009) and The Routledge Guide to European Political Archives (2012).
John Stevenson was formerly Reader in Modern History at Worcester College, Oxford. His publications include The Routledge Companion to Britain in the Eighteenth Century and he has most recently edited the final volume of the English Historical Documents series, covering the years 1914-1957.
'Chris Cook and John Stevenson, two of the most eminent historians of British history, have built up on the work of David Butler to produce the most comprehensive and incisive book on British elections currently available. It is a well researched and impressively written examination of British elections, of all types, covering the years from 1689. It is an essential read for all historians of British political and social history.' - Keith Laybourn, University of Huddersfield, UK
'Chris Cook and John Stevenson's A History of British Elections since 1689 is a vital resource for scholars of modern British history and politics as well as journalists and policymakers. In addition to reviewing each election result since 1689, the authors provide a useful glossary of political parties and a chronology of key development in the evolution of elections as well as an analysis of the historical development of Parliament, elections and electioneering.' - Neal McCrillis, Columbus State University, USA
'Belongs on the bookshelf of every teacher and student of modern British history. Complete and authoritative, the book brims with information for students of modern British politics and history.' - Kirk Willis, University of Georgia, USA
'This excellent and detailed overview of electoral activity and developments in the UK will be invaluable to anyone studying British political history. Summing Up: Highly recommended' - C. E. King, Iowa State University in CHOICE
