Choosing a leader : party leadership contests in Britain from Macmillan to Blair / Leonard P. Stark.

"First published in Great Britain 1996 by Macmillan Press Ltd."--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-235) and index.

1. Introduction -- 2. Conservatives -- 3. Labour -- 4. Third Parties -- 5. Candidates -- 6. Campaigns -- 7. Outcomes -- 8. Impact -- 9. A 'Silly Season Story'? -- 10. Postscript: Put Up and Shut Up -- Appendix: Leadership Selection Rules as of 31 December 1994.

Over the last three decades British political parties have radically, and repeatedly, changed the ways in which they choose their leaders. This book describes, in far greater detail than has appeared before, the frequently bitter debates over leadership selection in the Conservative, Labour, Liberal, Social Democratic and Liberal Democrat parties.

Given the extensive efforts parties have devoted to refining their selection rules, it is surprising to find that the new rules have had few identifiable consequences. Only rarely have the rules affected who runs for party leadership, how they campaign, or who wins the contest. Careful analysis reveals that, contrary to conventional belief, leadership contests are far more likely to be beneficial than harmful for a party - as was again demonstrated by John Major's 1995 re-election as Conservative Party leader.

Based on extensive interviewing with former party leaders and other politicians, this book is a fascinating study of an important yet poorly understood phenomenon: party leadership contests.