Description
Book SynopsisHow did the territorial Conservative Party adapt to devolution? This detailed analysis of the Scottish and Welsh Conservative Parties explains how they moved from campaigning against devolution to sitting in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Tracing the processes of party change in both parties this study explains why the Welsh Conservatives unexpectedly embraced devolution while the Scottish Conservatives took much longer to accept that Westminster was no longer the priority.
This book will be of interest to students of British, Scottish and Welsh politics and anyone who is interested in the Conservative Party. It also speaks to wider debates about the nature of devolution, party change and multi-level governance.
Table of ContentsList of tables
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I: Theory and context
1 When and why do political parties change?
2 The UK Conservative Party: statewide context
Part II: Scotland and Wales
3 Devolution, party change and the Scottish Conservative Party
4 Devolution, party change and the Welsh Conservative Party
5 Comparing party change in Scotland and Wales
Part III: Conclusion
Devolution, party politics and conservatism
References
Index
