Political Communications: The General Election of 2001

This work examines political communications in British general elections. Like its predecessors it has a dual purpose: first, to make available the reflections of those who participated in it; and, second, to provide analysis of the media, the parties and public opinion polls in the campaign. It therefore provides readers with a view of the election from the perspective of those campaigners who were most intimately concerned with the election such as Philip Gould (Labour), Andrew Lansley (Conservative) and Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat); a senior television executive (Richard Tait of ITN) and the opinion pollsters (Nick Moon of NOP, Bob Worcester of MORI). It also presents the more thoughtful reflections on the campaign from academics who are deeply interested in the future of British democracy, the health of its oft derided political parties, the quality of the media and the future of public participation. A particularly interesting feature of this volume is a chapter by Sam Younger, Chairman of the newElectoral Commission, on the work of that body both in this and subsequent election campaigns.