Tag Archives: mark egan

Book review: How grassroots activists saved the Liberal Party

Mark Egan’s book Coming into Focus: The Transformation of the Liberal Party 1945-64 examines how and why the Liberal Party survived its bleakest decades and survived a run of dismal general election results. He’s not the first to look at this question but the book takes a unique approach, being based on an extensive set of interviews carried out in the 1990s with Liberal activists from 1945-64. These are supplemented by an analysis of how local party structures fared during this twenty year span.

Whilst other studies have concentrated on issues of national policies, personalities and politics, Mark Egan draws out how the party survived thanks to its grassroots activists (and often despite the national policies, personalities and politics). He also adds a twist to the usual history of community politics:

Posted in Books | Also tagged | 7 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Simon Robinson
    Freedom of movement benefitted the minority of (often, middle class) people who wanted to live abroad without going through the hassle of applying for a visa, a...
  • Chloe
    Pm. It's not an easy narrative to make when it doesn't suit international contributors. Very quick to champion Hungary's new Prime Minister who released this in...
  • Peter Davies
    The ECB did not end up responsible for Greek debt and safeguards have been strengthened since then to ensure it will not be responsible for French debt either....
  • PM
    We should all want a good relationship with our neighbours, but this doesn't mean we should get into bed with them :-) Or even that we should be ultra close fin...
  • Chloe
    The hubris that was around in 2016 & 2019 is making a comeback. I wonder what's changed for this careerist.... https://x.com/andyburnham/status/806563566...