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Book abstract:
In 1999 the European elections broke fresh constitutional ground in the UK - they were to be the first nationwide contest fought under proportional representation. In the run-up to the elections there was much speculation about how the new system would affect the political parties and what sort of results it would generate. This work presents an account of the background to these elections, examining the preparations by the political parties, the unfolding campaign and the results, as well as their short term effects and their long term implications.
The book begins with a chapter on the background to Britain and the European Community, including a useful chronology of events from 1946 onwards. The second chapter examines the framework of the European election system, including a section on the electoral systems in each European Union Member State, and the procedures leading to the introduction of proportional representation in Britain. Chapter three covers the preparations made by the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, United Kingdom Independence, Scottish National, Plaid Cymru and other more minor parties. The next chapter, on candidate selection, again looks at each party in turn, analysing the procedures and the problems that arose with each party's chosen system of selection. Chapter five analyses the national campaigns, concluding that the campaign was virtually invisible as far as the British public were concerned, in particular in the early stages, and there was a general lack of commitment from the major parties with an absence of real policy differences. The chapter includes an analysis of broadsheet and tabloid newspaper front-page stories throughout the campaign, demonstrating that the European elections simply failed to make the headlines. The next section of the book, covering candidates' views and activities and the campaign in the regions, includes essays from contributors covering each of the UK regions.
Finally, the authors examine the outcome and consequences of the elections, including several tables of results, and examining the effect of the results for each of the major parties and for key figures within the parties. The conclusion discusses the main questions, themes and concerns emerging from the outcome of the elections.
The text throughout is absorbing and clear. The book will be interesting reading for those following both European and British politics and the way political parties operate.
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