📖 Overview
The British General Election of 2015 documents and analyzes one of the most unpredictable UK elections in recent history. This academic work continues the long-running Nuffield election study series, which has covered every British election since 1945.
Authors Philip Cowley and Dennis Kavanagh examine the election through multiple lenses - from campaign strategies and polling data to media coverage and voter behavior. Their research draws on interviews with key political figures, statistical analysis, and extensive documentation of the campaign period.
The book breaks down the roles of traditional and social media, explores how parties allocated resources across constituencies, and investigates the impact of emerging political forces like UKIP and the SNP. The authors track both the national campaign narrative and granular details of local races.
This volume serves as both a historical record and an analytical framework for understanding modern British electoral politics. Through their examination of the 2015 contest, Cowley and Kavanagh reveal broader patterns in how UK democracy functions in an era of coalition politics and fragmented party loyalty.
👀 Reviews
Readers found this book provides a thorough analysis of the 2015 UK election, with detailed coverage of campaign strategies and polling data. Students and academics noted its value as a reference text.
Likes:
- In-depth examination of polling errors and their impact
- Behind-the-scenes details of party campaigns
- Clear explanations of complex electoral data
- Objective and balanced analysis
Dislikes:
- Some readers wanted more analysis of Scotland's role
- A few noted it could be dense for general readers
- Price point considered high by several reviewers
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.0/5 (13 ratings)
Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (12 reviews)
Sample review quote: "Excellent analysis of why the polls got it wrong. The chapters on constituency campaigning were particularly enlightening." - Amazon UK reviewer
The book is part of a long-running series analyzing British elections, which readers noted helps provide historical context for the 2015 results.
📚 Similar books
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🤔 Interesting facts
🗳️ The 2015 election marked the first time since 1955 that a governing party increased both its vote share and number of seats after serving a full term.
📚 This book is part of the longest-running series of national election studies in the world, with editions covering every British general election since 1945.
🎓 Co-author Philip Cowley is renowned for maintaining detailed records of parliamentary rebellions and voting patterns, making him one of Britain's leading experts on parliamentary behavior.
📊 The book reveals that the 2015 election saw the highest combined vote share for the Conservative and Labour parties since 2001, despite predictions of a more fragmented political landscape.
🗞️ The authors had unprecedented access to campaign strategists and internal party documents, conducting over 300 first-hand interviews with key players in the election.