The Importance of Local Parties and Incumbency to the Electoral Prospects of the L iberal D emocrats

It has been argued, based upon national polling and mid‐term election results, that Britain's L iberal D emocrats will lose a substantial number of seats at the next general election. However, such argument is in danger of underestimating the unique importance of strong local party organisation and incumbency to the L iberal D emocrats as a platform for subsequent general electoral success. This article examines the changing income, expenditure and membership of the party's strongest local constituency associations since 2010, and concludes with a short assessment of the possible implications for the L iberal D emocrats at the next election and beyond.