Parties and party systems: Realignment or readjustment?

2003 was a year of war, political rebellion and speculation about the future of party leaders. By the end of the year one party leader had been removed, and the Prime Minister found himself in fragile health and with a more tenuous grip on power. In the opinion polls, the Conservative opposition finally caught up with the Labour Party, and the Liberal Democrats were able to win a dramatic by-election after starting in third place. However, there is evidence to suggest that public dissatisfaction with Labour did not translate into positive support for the other parties, and elections for the Scottish parliament and the National Assembly for Wales were less remarkable for bringing about political change than for demonstrating another dramatic fall in turnout.