The British General Election of 1931
Political Dynamics and the Collapse of the Labour Government
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:11th Apr '91
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
The 1931 election marked a critical turning point in British politics, reshaping party dynamics and revealing the resilience of Conservative hegemony. The British General Election of 1931 offers a thorough analysis.
In The British General Election of 1931, Andrew Thorpe meticulously explores the political landscape leading up to the pivotal election that reshaped British politics. The book delves into the collapse of the Labour government, which had been struggling under the weight of economic turmoil and political discontent. As Ramsay MacDonald transitioned from Labour leader to the head of a National government, primarily supported by Conservatives and Liberals, the stage was set for a significant electoral contest that would redefine party dynamics in Britain.
The author argues that despite the dramatic events of 1931, the overarching trends toward Conservative dominance and the entrenchment of two-party politics remained largely unaltered. Thorpe's analysis highlights how the election was not just a response to immediate crises but also a reflection of deeper political currents that had been developing over time. The National government's sweeping victory left the Labour Party in a weakened state, with only 46 MPs and a decade of opposition ahead, fostering a lingering sense of betrayal among its supporters.
Thorpe's scholarly work stands out as the first comprehensive study of this election, drawing from previously restricted contemporary documents. This in-depth examination provides valuable insights for students and scholars of twentieth-century British politics, emphasizing the lasting implications of the 1931 election on the political landscape of the UK. The British General Election of 1931 is an essential resource for understanding this watershed moment in history.
`comprehensive new study.' Times Literary Supplement
'Andrew Thorpe has provided an ample historical study which challenges many of the judgements in R. Bassett's 1931:Political Crisis and explains much about the most overwhelming landslide in British elections.' Electoral Studies, Volume 11 Number 1
'Thorpe offers an exhaustive account of how the 1929 parliament stuggled towards disaster. ... he has also worked meticulously on candidacies and on the statistical outcome. ... Thorpe provides an admirable guide to this turning point in twentieth-century British history.' David Butler, Political Studies
'Andrew Thorpe's title is altogether too modest - he has in fact provided us with an excellent political history of the entire 1931 crisis. ...Andrew Thorpe has certainly succeeded in casting a great deal of light on the politics of this period, and his book will be of great value to all those studying it.' Tom Buchanan, Labour History Review
'Thorpe provides an admirable guide to this turning point in twentieth-century British history.' David Butler, Nuffield College, Oxford, Political Studies (1992), XL
`meticulously and impressively researched. ... The narrative is comprehensive and convincing. ... a useful monograph, and a sound platform from which to proffer a broader perspective in the future.' Duncan Tanner, History
'Thorpe's arguments are carefully documented ... Thorpe's book-length concentration on the immediate before and after of the election, laced with election and opinion statistics, is virtually one of a kind. Undergraduates, graduates, and specialists in the field should profit from this volume, in which they will find the arguments reasonable, compelling, and well supported with facts.' Robert Cole, Utah State University, History Reviews of New Books (US) Fall, 1992
'The approach provides publishers with a conveniently-packaged book with an instantly recognizable title, and authors with an off-the-peg methodology ... lucidly written and fairly balanced chapters on some highly contentious matters ... Interesting new emphases do emerge and some older arguments are given added weight.' John Ramsden, University of London, Albion
ISBN: 9780198202189
Dimensions: 219mm x 145mm x 26mm
Weight: 550g
344 pages