Apartisanship and anti-party sentiment in the United Kingdom: correlates and constraints

This article seeks to examine evidence of the existence and growth of anti-party sentiment in the UK. While it is clear that the available data cannot unambiguously confirm these phenomena, at least a prima facie case can be made on the basis of such evidence. Regression analysis suggests that while erosion of the class cleavage in the country is associated with the loosening of partisan commitments, the shortcomings of party governments in the area of economic policy management might contribute significantly to a sense of popular alienation from the major parties. Notwithstanding this, anti-party sentiment is perhaps not as high as might be expected in a country where perceptions of national economic decline have been widespread. Political culture and the electoral system are very real constraints that do much to account for this.