A 'non-election' in terms of popular perception, the 2004 European elections in the United Kingdom nevertheless provided a fascinating snapshot of the new, far more fluid electoral trends that have been emerging since the end of the Thatcher era, with Green, Eurosceptical, regional and single issue parties all jostling for electoral space with the bigger three. Like its predecessors, this book documents the background, framework and party preparations; recounts how the campaign unfolded; analyses the results and explores the consequences of the elections in both the British and the European context.

In this 2004 volume, a formidable group of scholars investigate patterns of conflict that are arising in the European Union.

The authors present an authoritative account of the background to the elections, the preparations by the political parties, the unfolding campaign and the results, as well as of their short-term effects and their long-term implications. The fact that 1999 saw the first nation-wide contest involving proportional representation presented a special challenge to participants and observers alike.

The 10th edition of a library classic, British Political Facts records the who, the what and when of British political life from 1900 to the present day. Thoroughly researched and updated, this reliable and unique work is a treasure trove of information for scholars and politicos alike.

British Political Facts Since 1979 is the definitive record of the who, the what and the when of British political history from the election of Mrs Thatcher as Prime Minister to the present day. It is a comprehensive reference work that will be invaluable to students of Contemporary British Politics.

How do British elections work? What about local elections and by-elections? How are candidates chosen? What has been the impact of changes introduced by the present government? How can an ordinary voter play his or her part? And why do so few people vote these days? Dick Leonard, a political journalist and former MP, and Roger Mortimore, an opinion pollster, cover all aspects of British elections in this updated edition of the standard work, including comprehensive tables of statistics and results.

Written by a leading team of internationally distinguished political communication scholars, this book offers the most comprehensive account on comparative political communication research in the context of European Parliamentary elections to date. Divided into four sections, experts begin by tracing the historical and political background of European Parliamentary elections, paying close attention to trends in turnout and the changing institutional role of the European Parliament (EP). Focusing mainly on the 2009 elections and using original data throughout, the next two sections are devoted to campaign communication strategies and the overall media coverage of EP elections in both established and newly-accessioned members of the European Union. The concluding section focuses on the macro- and micro-level effects of European parliamentary campaigns in a comparative perspective to illustrate how campaign strategies and media coverage were received by voters in EU member states. This insightful account on the interaction between political actors, the media, and voters allows readers to develop a global understanding of political and media system interdependencies and on comparative political communication research more generally. Essential reading to students and scholars in political science, media studies, European politics, and political communication, as well as policy makers within the European Union.

Brexit traces the implications of the UK’s projected withdrawal from the EU, placing short-term political fluctuations in a broader historical and social context of the transformation of European and global society. This book provides a forum for leading Eurosociologists (broadly defined), working inside and outside the UK, to rethink their analyses of the European project and its prospects, as well as to reflect on the likely implications for the UK.

Since the advent of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, a key turning point in terms of the crystallisation of opposition towards the European Union (EU), Euroscepticism has become a transnational phenomenon. The term ‘Euroscepticism’ has become common political language in all EU member states and, with the advent of the Eurozone, refugee and security crises have become increasingly ‘embedded’ within European nation states. Bringing together a collection of essays by established and up-and-coming authors in the field, this handbook paints a fuller, more holistic picture of the extent to which the Eurosceptic debate has influenced the EU and its member states. Crucially, it also focuses on what the consequences of this development are likely to be for the future direction of the European project. By adopting a broad-based, thematic approach, the volume centres on theory and conceptualisation, political parties, public opinion, non-party groups, the role of referendums – and the media – and of scepticism within the EU institutions. It also reflects on the future of Euroscepticism studies following the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the EU. Containing a full range of thematic contributions from eminent scholars in the field, The Routledge Handbook of Euroscepticism is a definitive frame of reference for academics, practitioners and those with an interest in the debate about the EU, and more broadly for students of European Studies, EU and European Politics.

This is a unique book-length accounts of the domestic impact of EU membership. Drawing on expert contributions, this volume provides a state of the art account of how membership has affected the institutions of central, devolved and local governance, the activities of organized interests, and major areas of public policy.