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The 1922 General Election Reconsidered

High Politics and the Birth of the Modern British Election

Revisiting the high-stakes politics of 1922, G.H. Bennett unveils how one election transformed Britain’s electoral system and redefined party alliances for decades to come.

The 1922 General Election was more than just another political contest; it was the turning point that shaped the modern British electoral landscape. In The 1922 General Election Reconsidered, G.H. Bennett revisits this pivotal moment with fresh insight, drawing on newly available archival materials and digitized resources to decipher the high-stakes maneuvering and backroom negotiations that defined the campaign. Covering the dramatic collapse of the Lloyd George coalition and the intricate web of party alliances and local political machinations, this book captures the election in unprecedented detail.

Bennett studies the key players and the seismic shifts that emerged in the wake of the vote. He also looks into how informal cooperation between parties blurred political lines and how media speculation shaped public perceptions. By placing the election in both its immediate and long-term context,  The 1922 General Election Reconsidered is a compelling reconsideration of an often-overlooked moment in British political history that continues to influence elections a century later.

140 pages | 5.51 x 8.5 | © 2025

History: British and Irish History


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Table of Contents

* 1 Introduction
* 2 The Party-Political Outlook on the Fall of the Lloyd George Coalition
* 3 The Position of the Four Main Parties at the Downfall of the Coalition and the Process of Defining the Relationship Between Them 23–27 October
* 4 Local Arrangements
* 5 “There is no Pact – But” – Press Reactions to Rumours of Co-Operation/Coalition
* 6 “Co-operation” in the Constituencies
* 7 Impact of the Local Elections and Nomination Day and the McCurdy, Churchill and Fisher Meeting to Discuss Party Strategy on 2 November
* 8 Trying to Broker a Deal with the Conservatives
* 9 Exchanges Between the Parties After the Closing of Nominations
* 10 Methods and Tone
* 11 Final Positions
* 12 The Day of the Election and the Hours After
* 13 Results
* 14 Repercussions of the 1922 Election
* 15 Conclusion
* 16 Considerations for British Politics 100 Years Later

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