LOCAL ELECTIONS AS NATIONAL REFERENDUMS IN GREAT-BRITAIN

The results of the annual round of local elections held in Great Britain on the first Thursday in May each year attract considerable interest amongst journalists and politicians. Local elections are increasingly fought on party political Lines and have come to be seen as a national referendum on the standing of the political parties. The results of the elections are not, however, easy to interpret. The authors describe the methodology they have been developing since 1981 to analyse local election results for the news media and they evaluate the lessons and utility of their work. The prospects for local election studies in Great Britain are considered. © 1991.