`There is ... an extremely valuable appendix on postwar by-election results ... A reading of Norris's study provides a sense of perspective.' Dennis Kavanagh, Times Higher Education Supplement

• List of tables and diagrams; Preface; Introduction; I: Develop ments in By-elections 1945-87; Causes and functions of By-elections; By-elections 1945-66; By-elections 1966-79; By-elections 1979-1983; By-elections 1983-87; The routine fare: Knowsley North; The political earthquakes: Greenwich; II: Trends in By-election results: By-election volatility and partisan de-alignment; Retrospective theory and government performance; The impact of candidates and party organization; The role of the media and opinion polls; Abstainers, tacticals, floating voters; The comparative context: Australia and Canada; Conclusions: The volatile electorate; References and bibliography; Appendix A: Post-war By-election results; Index

`There is ... an extremely valuable appendix on postwar by-election results ... A reading of Norris's study provides a sense of perspective.' Dennis Kavanagh, Times Higher Education Supplement

• List of tables and diagrams; Preface; Introduction; I: Develop ments in By-elections 1945-87; Causes and functions of By-elections; By-elections 1945-66; By-elections 1966-79; By-elections 1979-1983; By-elections 1983-87; The routine fare: Knowsley North; The political earthquakes: Greenwich; II: Trends in By-election results: By-election volatility and partisan de-alignment; Retrospective theory and government performance; The impact of candidates and party organization; The role of the media and opinion polls; Abstainers, tacticals, floating voters; The comparative context: Australia and Canada; Conclusions: The volatile electorate; References and bibliography; Appendix A: Post-war By-election results; Index

`There is ... an extremely valuable appendix on postwar by-election results ... A reading of Norris's study provides a sense of perspective.' Dennis Kavanagh, Times Higher Education Supplement

• List of tables and diagrams; Preface; Introduction; I: Develop ments in By-elections 1945-87; Causes and functions of By-elections; By-elections 1945-66; By-elections 1966-79; By-elections 1979-1983; By-elections 1983-87; The routine fare: Knowsley North; The political earthquakes: Greenwich; II: Trends in By-election results: By-election volatility and partisan de-alignment; Retrospective theory and government performance; The impact of candidates and party organization; The role of the media and opinion polls; Abstainers, tacticals, floating voters; The comparative context: Australia and Canada; Conclusions: The volatile electorate; References and bibliography; Appendix A: Post-war By-election results; Index