{"product_id":"battles-at-the-ballot-ha","title":"Battles At The Ballot Ha","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe previously untold story of the home front in WW1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAs World War One broke out in 1914, the main British political parties agreed a truce for Westminster by-elections: they would allow whoever was the incumbent to win. But the public disagreed and 23 by-elections provided a platform for a motley crew of independents. Among them mainstream politicians, failing politicians, party loyalists, idealists, single-issue fanatics, chancers, and no-hopers.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe \u003ci\u003ecasus belli\u003c\/i\u003e for these independents changed as the war progressed, or didn’t, and as issues rose and fell in public significance. Consequently, the contests provide a fascinating insight for a 20th Century readership into the priorities and concerns of the home front during WW1, such as:\u003cbr\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003ethe poor quality of Britain’s air defences\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003esplits within the Labour movement over the war\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eopposition to restrictions on alcohol\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003econtroversy about the conscription of married men\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003edissatisfaction with support for discharged servicemen\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ecalls for ever harsher treatment of ‘aliens’\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ediscontent at the perceived failure to pursue the war vigorously\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBattles at the Ballots\u003c\/i\u003e is an authoritative and highly engaging look at a little-known slice of British parliamentary and political history, suitable for both the general trade market and an academic audience. It features colour and black and white photographs and illustrations, a full list of election results, footnotes and endnotes. Detailed coverage of 23 by-elections will appeal to those interested in local history in London, South Wales, Scotland, the North-East, Yorkshire, and elsewhere.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntroduction by Sir John Curtice, the BBC''s election expert\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"MediaPlace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57587806044542,"sku":"NW9781914487514","price":16.54,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1379\/1261\/files\/9781914487514.jpg?v=1781966617","url":"https:\/\/mediaplace.com\/products\/battles-at-the-ballot-ha","provider":"MediaPlace","version":"1.0","type":"link"}