The Lib-Lab Pact

Using archival sources and interviews with key participants, new insight is gained to how the Lib-Lab Pact of 1977-78 - an agreement, short of a full coalition - came about, was structured and implemented, and how Liberal leader, David Steel, might have achieved significant policy concessions on electoral reform.

"This a highly incisive, thoroughly researched and intelligently analysed scholarly study of an overlooked aspect of British politics in the crisis-ridden 1970s. The author has forensically trawled the primary archival sources, and also conducted interviews with some of the key participants (including the then Liberal leader, David Steel), before proving a judicious and thoughtful conclusion. This is undoubtedly the definitive book, and essential reading, on this topic." - Peter Dorey, Cardiff University, UK

Autorentext
Jonathan Kirkup is Lecturer in Politics at Cardiff University, UK.

Inhalt

Introduction

1. Cross-Party Co-Operation in British Politics, 1945-1977
2. Build Up to the Lib-Lab Pact, 1974-1977
3. Cross-Party Discussions, 17 March-20 March 1977
4. Lib-Lab Discussions, 17 March-23 March 1977
5. Cabinet Discussions on the Lib-Lab Agreement
6. The Lib-Lab Consultative Mechanism
7. Liberal Party Reaction to the Lib-Lab Pact
8. Policy Implications of the First Phase of the Pact
9. The Renewal of the Lib-Lab Agreement
10. The Second Period of the Lib-Lab Pact, July 1977-September 1977
11. Final Phase of the Lib-Lab Pact, October 1977-August 1978
    Conclusion