To form a government a political party must win an election. Work has suggested that to obtain votes parties (including those in government) direct some of their attention to constituencies which are most winnable. In the period prior to an election they advertise themselves to win votes. Analyses are unclear as to the efficacy of this advertising in the British context. The research reported here suggests strongly that such advertising has little impact, with implications for the general field of research linking electoral geography and the geography of public policy.
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