The British General Election of October 1974

The General Election of October 1974 came closer on the heels of its predecessor than any contest since 1681. But it was not a repeat performance. The events of February emerging from crisis and resulting in deadlock had produced fresh challenges for British parties. This volume, the tenth in the Nuffield College studies of general elections, examines how the politicians and the voters reacted to that challenge. It discusses the events of 1974 in detail - the parliamentary tactics as the rivals sought to adjust to their new roles in government and opposition and to position themselves for a further campaign; the timing of the dissolution as Mr Wilson strove to build up a record in government before blame for the escalating inflation and unemployment could be laid at his door; the preparation of the manifestos; the conduct of the campaign on the national hustings and in the introverted world of Smith Square, its reporting in the press and on television; the special problems of Scotland; the selection and background of the candidates; the opinion polls - both the public ones reported in the media and the private ones done for the parties; and the final outcome. The authors' description and analysis are marked by the combination of authoritativeness and impartiality which has characterised the Nuffield studies.