A History of the Liberal Party in the Twentieth Century

Once teetering on the brink of oblivion, the British Liberal Party has again re-established itself as a major force in national and local politics. Most existing accounts of the party are written within the context of the party's decline - the passage of the twentieth century, however, enables a fresh view to be taken which allows the intriguing story of the Liberals' waning, near-death and ultimate recovery to be seen in a clearer light. David Dutton's approachable study offers new insights into the fortunes of the Liberal Party. Focusing on the problem of a third party operating in a political structure designed to accommodate two rather than three contenders for power, Dutton offers a rounded view of the Liberals and their relations with their Labour and Conservative opponents. Discussions of politics, philosophy and performance are all skillfully interwoven as Dutton demonstrates how the party has been strengthening its position for more than forty years to become, once more, a formidable player on the political stage. This lively survey of British Liberalism from the era of Campbell-Bannerman to that of Charles Kennedy reviews existing literature while offering its own distinctive perspective on one of the most compelling of political dramas.