The 2010 election has transformed the British political landscape, ushering in a coalition government for the first time since the Second World War, and breaking up the UK's traditional pattern of two-party dominance.Bringing together recognized experts in key areas of British politics, this book analyses the implications of this turning point in British history. It looks beyond the sound and fury of the election campaign in search of the deeper causes and long-term consequences of the 2010 poll, placing the election in a broader context. It assesses the reasons for Labour's defeat and for the Conservatives' failure to win the election outright, and examines the Liberal Democrats' remarkable transformation into a party of government. The book also addresses the impact of the global financial crisis and the problems facing the British economy one decade into the new century, the implications of the election for the unity of the United Kingdom, and the changing nature of Britain's international and European role.This timely, accessible volume will be of interest to academic specialists and students of British politics as well as the interested general reader seeking insights into the rapidly changing British political scene.

Introduction Gianfranco BaldiniElections, voters, parties1. The British general election of 2010 and the advent of coalition government Patrick Dunleavy2. The Labour party Eric Shaw3. The path to (sharing) power: Conservative party Richard Hayton4. The Liberal Democrats: Challenges, issues and policies Elizabeth Evans5. The financial crisis and financial regulation in the UK Lucia Quaglia6. Inequality, poverty and the 2010 election Jonathan Hopkin and Martina Viarengo7. Immigration and multiculturalism: controversies and policies Roberto BertinettiThe Changing UK State and its role in the world8. Devolution and the 2010 election in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Alan Trench9. Between Europe and America: The coalition and Britain's changing international role Gianfranco BaldiniConclusion