Variations in third/minor party support in English constituencies: One‐party dominance and community cohesion perspectives

Abstract. The paper presents an ecological analysis evaluating two explanatory perspectives on third/minor party advances in recent English general elections. The impact of community cohesion on third/minor party mobilisation is complex and differentiated. Cohesion stemming from the socio‐economic homogeneity of constituency environments tends to buttress support for the two main class‐based parties. However, communal cohesion stemming from workplace‐residence proximity tends to favour the channeling of collective protest into third/minor parties. Third/minor party advances are also shown to be positively related to prior situations of major party dominance in constituencies, particularly in the 1983 election.