THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POTENTIAL STRENGTH OF THE LIBERAL PARTY FOR THE FUTURE OF BRITISH POLITICS

In: Parliamentary affairs: a journal of representative politics, Band 14, Heft 3, S. 378-390

Abstract

Since there is little real possibility of a formal coalition between the Liberal & Labor Parties, the question of most importance at present concerns the possibility of the Liberals gaining strength on their own. As possible indexes of a Liberal revival, the showing of the party at elections, & its financial strength & membership, are unsatisfactory. More satisfactory as an index is its success in recruiting parliamentary candidates,increased from 25% to 61% by 1959. The retentive power of the Liberal Party has been poor - but it improved between 1955 & 1959, & even in 1954 57% of Liberal candidates had stood previously. IPSA.