How many ethnic minority candidates stood for the LibDems in 1983?If you want to know the answers to those questions, buy this book! When I was at Politico's I got fed up with academic publishers publishing books priced outside the range of normal bookbuyers. When Rallings & Thrasher brought out their book, British Electoral Facts in hardback, it was priced at a massive £85! My company Biteback have now published a paperback edition priced at £19.99 (available HERE at £14.99).
Essentially, the 300 pages contain a treasure trove of historical political facts about every conceivable aspect of British electoral politics. As well as the expected election results, going back to 1832, it looks at party votes, turnouts, swings, size of electorate, changes inn electoral law, postal vote turnout, boundary reviews, demographics of election candidates, by-elections, European election data, regional differences, devolution, local government and referendums.
In short it is a book which is surely a must-buy for anyone interested in elections and electoral statistics. Let's put it this way. If you gave it to Davd Dimbleby, he'd probably keep it by his side during the election night programme.
Hi Iain, I think you have got slightly confused. British Political Facts is of course written by my father-in-law David Butler, not Rallings and Thrasher, though they are good friends of course and am sure have helped with numerous editions. The new BPF will be out next year after the general election. Glad to see that you've made British Electoral Facts cheaper though - will buy a copy now!
ReplyDeleteAn extra tax on this book might help fund Thursday night counts in a number of constituencies now considering not starting until Friday - will write to Cleggy right away!
ReplyDeleteSurely the Lib Dems were called the Liberal SDP Alliance in the 1983 general election?
ReplyDeleteThank you Iain, I can at last tell my relatives what I would like for Christmas !
ReplyDeletechanges INN electoral law
ReplyDeleteThat's the law on treating, then -- Election Treating Bill of 1806.
Best excuse for the candidate not to stand his round after an evening on the knocker.
Time for a competition Mr Dale. Put this book up as a prize.
ReplyDeleteMr Quango is right- but to make it even more special,the book could be hardback and signed by your good self (then in 20 years time , when you are Prime Minister a potential investor would be sitting on a goldmine). But what could the competition be , I wonder?
ReplyDelete14.99 became 18.99 when I followed the link!
ReplyDeleteHaven't looked at either edition, am ashamed to say. I suppose it includes electoral details for Scotland in the mid 1950s? - it's funny how many people (including Scots) think that Scotland was always anti-Tory when of course in the 50s they were the dominant party.
ReplyDeleteThe price was £18.99 when I followed the link too :-(
ReplyDeleteIs this the version just going to 1999, to 2006, or what?
[And why is the verification 'bumshp'? Not sure I approve of that!]
AMazon set the price. When I wrote the blogpost it was £14.99.
ReplyDeleteIt goes from 1832 to 2006.
Then I suppose it's a worthwhile update on my copy of Craig's 'British Electoral Facts, 1885-1975' - the third edition, published in 1976 at £8.50 as a cased hardback.
ReplyDelete