Liberal Democrats

David Cutts is Professor of Political Science at the University of BirminghamAndrew Russell is Professor of Politics at the University of LiverpoolJoshua Townsley is a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics

'Not all Liberal Democrats will agree with the frankness of the authors’ assessment of the party’s recent years, but all should pay close attention to their evidence-backed seven themes for future success.'Mark Pack, President of the Liberal Democrats‘A fascinating, 360-degree portrait of Britain's “third party”. The authors shine a harsh light on the Lib Dems’ ongoing problems but also point to their still-considerable potential. Forensically analytical yet approachably written, the book is absolutely essential reading in the run-up to the next general election – and beyond.’Tim Bale, author of The Conservative Party after Brexit‘This book contributes to the very small field of serious analyses of this important third force in British politics. Excellently researched and closely argued, it identifies dilemmas around identity, structure, agency and role, accounting for the party’s ill-fated period in coalition government while framing the potential for a future Liberal Democrat revival.’Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy and the Governance of Wales, Cardiff University'A welcome investigation into where it all went wrong.' Sherelle Jacobs, The Sunday Telegraph'A highly detailed and original study of the Liberal Democrats, the perennial third — now fourth — party of British politics. The book by three academics constitutes a wealth of fresh insights into how a minor party can operate in a two-party, first-past-the-post system — with a wealth of insights into how the 2010-15 Conservative-Lib Dem coalition has left a long hangover following the initial jubilation of being in power after so many decades.'Financial Times (included in their 'UK 2024 election: what to read ahead of the July 4 ballot' list)'Overall, The Liberal Democrats will deservingly be the go-to study for those seeking to understand Britain’s “third party” for many years to come, and in several ways itself pushes the study of parties forward. The book joins several monographs in recent years of single British parties – Conservative, Labour, UKIP, the Greens, the DUP and the SNP – that in most cases take similar methodological approaches. However, The Liberal Democrats goes one step further in terms of its practical and clear recommendations. Its conclusions are largely borne out by the subsequent 2024 general election, redeeming the authors’ balanced, detached, and at times painstaking approach.'James Dennison, LSE Review of Books 'The Liberal Democrats is likely to become an important reference point for future scholars.'Peter Sloman, Political Studies Review'Overall, this book offers a thorough history of what has happened to Liberal Democrat support and the party’s campaigning intensity in key seats between 2005 and 2019 and ably demonstrates how the effects of the party’s choices are constrained by the positioning and perceptions of its two main rivals.'Dr Chris Butler, Journal of Liberal HistoryCHOICE: Recommended

• Introduction: structure, agency and an identity crisisPart I: The road to government1 Policy distinctiveness, popular leaders and ‘winning here’2 ‘Cowley Street, we have a problem’: the false political and electoral dawnPart II: The coalition years: from government to obscurity3 Getting the coalition wrong4 Where did all the Liberal Democrat voters go?5 Losing locally and being left behindPart III: The post-coalition story: fighting for survival6 From life support to renewed hope7 Political shocks and the coalition legacy: austerity, Brexit and leadership woes8 The changing geography of the Liberal Democrat vote9 Liberal Democrat campaigning at a crossroads: the big pictureConclusion: the Liberal Democrats’ identity crisisAppendixIndex