Psephological books

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Also By-elections in British Politics, 1832-1914 ed by T.G. Otte and Paul Readman.

If I had one to add to the list, it would be Stoke-on-Trent in 1875. Was that where Stoke picked up its attraction to maverick Independent candidates? (No, it's just a coincidence, but it's amusing to ask)

[iang]

Aug 28, 2024 21:06:12 GMT matureleft said:

Cook and Ramsden had a book entitled By-elections in British politics. I had a copy but may have disposed of it (I haven’t unpacked the books yet) in my last move. It wasn’t particularly useful.

I've got a copy. (The second edition which goes up to by elections of the 1990s). Why don't you like it? I thought it was really good

[matureleft]

Aug 29, 2024 7:32:16 GMT iang said:

Aug 28, 2024 21:06:12 GMT matureleft said:

Cook and Ramsden had a book entitled By-elections in British politics. I had a copy but may have disposed of it (I haven’t unpacked the books yet) in my last move. It wasn’t particularly useful.

I've got a copy. (The second edition which goes up to by elections of the 1990s). Why don't you like it? I thought it was really good

As I recall fairly routine narratives, light on analysis and with few thoughts that I hadn’t already come to. However I read it long ago in its first edition. 

[mrtoad]

Aug 29, 2024 7:32:16 GMT iang said:

Aug 28, 2024 21:06:12 GMT matureleft said:

Cook and Ramsden had a book entitled By-elections in British politics. I had a copy but may have disposed of it (I haven’t unpacked the books yet) in my last move. It wasn’t particularly useful.

I've got a copy. (The second edition which goes up to by elections of the 1990s). Why don't you like it? I thought it was really good

Tend to agree with you Ian - the Cook and Ramsden book was a breakthrough in its time and it probably comes across now as pedestrian because it's a foundational text and a lot of what we take for granted about by-election studies is built on the back of it.

Thanks hullenedge for the kind words about my chapter in Iain Dale's General Elections book. I'm pleased with what I wrote - I feel I stuck to the brief and it was interesting to write empathetically about Heath's Conservatives. I can see why they felt hard done by in this election, even though the government record in 1970-74 isn't the sort of thing that gets you re-elected.

I'm due (health and stuff permitting) to write an essay for the Iain Dale book on by-elections. I got in a bit late and all the good ones were taken (including, I'm glad to say, County Clare which I'd urged on Iain as absolutely essential, and Hamilton 1967 which is to my mind the most consequential by-election of the 20th Century). So I pitched to do Hammersmith South 1949 because it was an opportunity to talk about the peak of party organisation and the two-party system (and the changing politics of London also indicated by the LCC election). Iain didn't fancy it so I'm working on Mitcham 1923. I was aware of it before mostly as Labour's first win in a suburban seat and for party organisation and mass canvassing, but on further reading it's also quite interesting for some Tory infighting (the election was intended to fix a Patrick Gordon Walker type situation for Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen, who was an electoral Jonah to rival Charles Masterman).

Coincidentally, I'm also a contributor to a special edition of the London Journal on London by-elections: I'm writing up Mitcham & Morden 1982 and possibly collaborating with Pippa Catterall on one about Walthamstow West 1967.

[relique]

Just to spice things up, a few years ago I bought "Atlas historique des circonscriptions électorales françaises" by Bernard Gaudillère. Great book. Helped me a lot on some inner city boundaries in urban constituencies I had trouble with.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Aug 29, 2024 19:45:06 GMT relique said:

Just to spice things up, a few years ago I bought "Atlas historique des circonscriptions électorales françaises" by Bernard Gaudillère. Great book. Helped me a lot on some inner city boundaries in urban constituencies I had trouble with.

A few years ago I found a copy of 'Atlas électoral de la France 1848-2001' by Frédéric Salmon, which is a fascinating look at changing areas of electoral strength.

[swanarcadian]

Aug 29, 2024 19:45:06 GMT relique said:

Just to spice things up, a few years ago I bought "Atlas historique des circonscriptions électorales françaises" by Bernard Gaudillère. Great book. Helped me a lot on some inner city boundaries in urban constituencies I had trouble with.

A French equivalent of the Almanac of British politics would be very useful, if only to explain where the constituencies actually are given that they’re numbered rather than named.

[relique]

Aug 29, 2024 20:04:31 GMT swanarcadian said:

Aug 29, 2024 19:45:06 GMT relique said:

Just to spice things up, a few years ago I bought "Atlas historique des circonscriptions électorales françaises" by Bernard Gaudillère. Great book. Helped me a lot on some inner city boundaries in urban constituencies I had trouble with.

A French equivalent of the Almanac of British politics would be very useful, if only to explain where the constituencies actually are given that they’re numbered rather than named.

I wanted to initiate such a work in the french equivalent of this forum but I'm afraid this generation of contributors are much more interested in sterile discussions on the latest media stunt rather than psephology...

[swanarcadian]

An idea for a new forum there, if Politiquemania isn’t interested.

We have had threads up for US states in the past whenever there’s a presidential election there.

[hullenedge]

[Robert Waller]

May I use this sub-board to report that the 2024 Times House of Commons has been published today.

I think it's the best for a few editions, though need to offer the disclaimer that I provided the raw material for the 650 short constituency profiles, cut to fit the space available once the candidate bios etc were included.

I have already thanked the contributors to the 'Almanac' boards here, whose work I have used - and indeed the Vote UK website is included on the authors page, in the same size type as my own name!

May I again offer my appreciation.

[nodealbrexiteer]

This and the Nuffield study, Britain Votes, Britain at the Polls etc are always eagerly awaited!