Author Approved Politics Study Guides Series Editor: Duncan Watts This is a series of well-written, accessible introductions to key areas of Politics courses taught at both A-level/Highers and undergraduate level. Each book is structured in the same way, with all chapters including the following: - A short boxed paragraph of introduction, setting out the broad area to be explored - A brief conclusion summarising what you should have learnt - A glossary of key terms - Sample examination questions - Helpful websites - Suggestions for further reading The emphasis is on responding to student needs by producing up-to-date material written in a user-friendly style. Political Parties in Britain Matt Cole and Helen Deighan This introduction to political parties in Britain explains why parties are important, which parties rule Britain, and how to judge whether they are doing their job. It assesses the parties in turn, from Labour and the Conservatives, through the rising forces of the Liberal Democrats and the National parties, to the smaller parties of the far Left and Right. It looks at their development, ideas, support and prospects, and analyses the relationships between the parties, and between the parties and the public. Key Features Identifies the functions of parties in a democracy Outlines the key characteristics of Britain's significant parties Explains the relationships between them as a party system Evaluates their success as democratic institutions Matt Cole is Subject Leader in Modern History and Politics at King Edward VI College in Stourbridge. He is author of Democracy in Britain (Edinburgh University Press, 2006). Helen Deighan is Head of Politics at St Bartholomew's School in Newbury.