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Brexit, the 2019 General Election and the Realignment of British Politics

Cutts, David, Goodwin, Matthew J., Heath, Oliver, Surridge, Paula (2020) Brexit, the 2019 General Election and the Realignment of British Politics. Political Quarterly, 91 (1). pp. 7-23. ISSN 1467-923X. (doi:10.1111/1467-923X.12815) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:93254)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided. (Contact us about this Publication)
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12815

Abstract

The outcome of the 2019 general election—a resounding Conservative majority and an unprecedented defeat for Labour—delivered a decisive electoral verdict for the first time in recent years following a period where British politics has been characterised by instability and indecision. In this article, we draw on aggregate-level data to conduct an initial exploration of the vote. What was the impact of Brexit on the 2019 general election result? How far has Brexit reshaped electoral politics? Was 2019 a ‘realignment election’? And, if so, what are the implications? With a focus on England and Wales we show that, although the Conservatives made gains deep into Labour’s working class heartlands, these gains have been a long time coming, reflected in Labour’s weakening relationship with working class Britain. As such, 2019 is not a critical election but a continuation of longer-term trends of dealignment and realignment in British politics.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/1467-923X.12815
Subjects: J Political Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Politics and International Relations
Depositing User: Matthew Goodwin
Date Deposited: 18 Feb 2022 15:08 UTC
Last Modified: 21 Feb 2022 11:39 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/93254 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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