Democratising Conservative leadership selection

Andrew Denham is Reader in Government, University of Nottingham. Kieron O'Hara is Senior Research Fellow in the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, and a Fellow of the Web Science Research Initiative

Democratising Conservative leadership selection traces the effects of democracy on the British Conservative Party, specifically looking at how changes in the ways the Conservatives elect their leaders have altered their mandate to lead.The book includes analysis of the original undemocratic 'system' whereby a leader 'emerged' from a shadowy process of consultation, and of the six elections between 1965 and 1997 where the parliamentary Conservative Party alone chose the Party leader. This historical perspective is followed by in-depth analysis of the three contests since 2001 that have taken place under the 'Hague rules', according to which ordinary Party members have the final say. This is the most comprehensive account yet published of the operation of those rules on the Conservative Party and the legitimacy of its leadership, and of the 2005 election of David Cameron.This book will be essential reading for students, academic specialists and anyone interested in the recent history and contemporary practice of British Conservatism.

Preface1. Introduction: democracy, legitimacy and Conservative leadership2. The 'magic circle' and after: from selection to election3. Hague's revenge: the Conservative leadership election of 20014. Full circle to the magic circle5. From May to December Part 1: the phoney war6. From May to December Part 2: a tale of two speeches7. Cameron's mandate for modernisation8. ConclusionAppendix I: Conservative Party leadership election results 1965-2005Appendix II: The experience upon reaching office of Conservative Party leaders since the WarAppendix III: Declarations of support in the 2005 Conservative Party leadership electionAppendix IV: Bookmakers' odds on the 2005 Conservative Party leadership electionSelected bibliography