The End of the Small Party? - (Manchester University Press) by Louise Thompson (Hardcover)

About the Book

The first book to uncover how small groups like Change UK/The Independent Group exert influence in the British Parliament, based on first-hand interviews with the MPs themselves.

Book Synopsis

For a brief moment in 2019 Britain's politics looked like it might be transformed. Just when it seemed that the divisions within and across British political parties over Brexit could not get any more intense, 7 Labour and 3 Conservative MPs broke away to form The Independent Group (TIG) - later Change UK. This is the first book to explore the meteoric lifespan of that party, within the wider context of the experiences of other small political groupings in the House of Commons. Ultimately, it shows why the party failed and disbanded after just a few months.

Timely and thoroughly researched, Louise Thompson's book takes us deep inside the struggles facing MPs who leave behind the comforts of the large political parties. Drawing on interviews with current and former politicians, it explores the practicalities of being a small party MP in the Commons. What challenges face you? Who can you turn to? And just how can you make an impact?

Crisply written for the non-specialist reader, this fascinating book opens a window onto the perilous world of parliamentary politics.

From the Back Cover

'Louise Thompson's account of the short life and fast times of Change UK helps explain why no new governing party has emerged in the UK for a hundred years.'
Mark D'Arcy, BBC Parliamentary correspondent

'A fascinating in-depth account of how small-parties, whether they be start-ups or established players, either sink or swim in an environment in which - given their relatively limited access to funding, air-time, and even space - the odds are all too often stacked against them.'
Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London and Co-Director, Mile End Institute

'An outstanding book, packed with insights about the difficulties faced by independents and small parties in the House of Commons. It will be a go-to benchmark on these issues for many years to come. Highly recommended.'
Alistair Clarke, Reader in Politics, Newcastle University

For a brief moment in 2019, it looked like Britain's political system was transforming. Just when it seemed that the divisions within and across British political parties over Brexit could not get any deeper, seven Labour and three Conservative MPs broke away to form The Independent Group (TIG) - later Change UK. This is the first book to explore the meteoric lifespan of that party within the wider context of the experiences of other small political groupings in the House of Commons. Ultimately, it shows why the party failed and disbanded after just a few months.

Timely and thoroughly researched, Louise Thompson's book takes us deep inside the struggles facing MPs who leave behind the comforts of the large political parties. Drawing on interviews with current and former politicians, it explores the practicalities of being a small party MP in the Commons. What challenges do they face? Who can they turn to? And just how can they make an impact?

Crisply written for the non-specialist reader, this fascinating book opens a window onto the perilous world of parliamentary politics.

Review Quotes

'Louise Thompson's account of the short life and fast times of Change UK helps explain why no new governing party has emerged in the UK for a hundred years.'
Mark D'Arcy, BBC Parliamentary Correspondent

'A fascinating in-depth account of how small-parties, whether they be start-ups or established players, either sink or swim in an environment in which - given their relatively limited access to funding, air-time, and even space - the odds are all-too-often stacked against them.'
Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London and Co-Director, Mile End Institute

'An outstanding book, packed with insights about the difficulties faced by independents and small parties in the House of Commons. It will be a go-to benchmark on these issues for many years to come. Highly recommended.'
Alistair Clarke, Reader in Politics, Newcastle University

About the Author

Louise Thompson is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Manchester. Alongside her academic research she has written for a range of publications, including The Conversation and the Independent.