'This is the best volume in the Political Communications series which started with the 1979 general election. It stands out for its rich empirical material on all aspects of the 2005 election and the consistently high level of analysis. Splendid.' - Dennis Kavanagh, Professor of Politics, University of Liverpool, UK

'This is an important text that makes a distinctive contribution to analysis of the 2005 general election and upholds the high standards of comment and scholarship establishd by it six predecessors.' - Michael Cole, Political Studies Review

PAUL BAINES Senior Lecturer in Marketing, School of Management, Cranfield University, UK. GAVIN BARWELL Was Director of Operations for the Conservatives until 2006 MICHAEL BILLIG Professor of Social Sciences, Loughborough University, UK ADAM BOULTON Political Editor of Sky News ROSIE CAMPBELL Lecturer in Research Methods, School of Politics and Sociology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK DAVID CANZINI Was Director of Campaigning for the Conservatives (2001-2005) GREG COOK Head of Political Strategy for the Labour Party ANDREW COOPER Director of Populus Limited, opinion pollsters for The Times STEPHEN CUSHION Lecturer, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, UK DAVID CUTTS Simon Research Fellow, Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research, University of Manchester, UK MARK DAMAZER Controller of Radio 4 SCOTT DAVIDSON Doctoral Student, Department of Social Sciences, Loughborough University, UK DAVID DEACON Senior Lecturer in Communications and Media studies, Loughborough University, UK DAVID DENVER Professor of Politics, Lancaster University, UK JOHN DOWNEY Senior Lecturer in Communication and Media Studies, Loughborough University, UK JUSTIN FISHER Professor of Politics, Brunel University, UK ED FIELDHOUSE Professor of Social and Political Science, Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research, University of Manchester, UK BOB FRANKLIN Professor of Journalism Studies, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Wales, UK PETER GOLDING Professor of Sociology and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Loughborough University, UK PHILIP GOULD Strategic and Polling Advisor to the Labour party and Visiting Professor, London School of Economics, UK VANESSA HYLAND Head of Ad Hoc Research, Ofcom, UK PETER KELLNER Chairman of YouGov, UK CHRIS RENNARD Chief Executive of the Liberal Democrats JACKIE ROWLEY Was Charles Kennedy's Spokeswoman and Director of Communications until 2006 ANDREW RUSSELL Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Manchester, UK NICK SPARROW Managing Director of ICM Research, UK JENNIFER VAN HEERDE Lecturer in Political Science, University College London, UK KRISTI WINTERS Doctoral Student, Department of Government, University of Essex, UK ROBERT WORCESTER President of MORI research, UK