The Politics of Discontent: Britain’s Emerging Multi-Party Politics

Chapter 7 discusses prospects for British party politics in light of the 2015 election result. A striking aspect of the outcome was the strong performance of various minor parties, coupled with the long-term decline in support for the two major parties. Public unhappiness with political parties is persistent and widespread. Perceived performance failures and feelings that parties represent socio-economic elites rather than ordinary people are important sources of this discontent — discontent expressed via the election of veteran left-wing activist Jeremy Corbyn as new Labour leader. The chapter concludes by discussing how Corbyn’s leadership and Prime Minister Cameron’s promised referendum on continuing EU membership may affect Labour, the Conservatives and the British party system more generally.