Elections and public opinion: Leaders under pressure

The Conservatives' continuing failure to make significant advances in the opinion polls, public dissatisfaction with the performance of the Opposition leader, and disappointing local and devolved election results all contributed to a leadership crisis with the replacement of lain Duncan Smith by Michael Howard. The Labour leader too faced a most difficult year, particularly in the conduct of foreign policy. Public opinion remained largely sceptical about the need for war with Iraq; and although support strengthened once combat troops were committed, it declined after the war ended. In elections to devolved institutions Labour made a small advance in Wales but lost ground in Scotland. In each country there were setbacks for the nationalist parties. Postponed elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were eventually held in November and electoral opinion on both sides of the sectarian divide hardened, with seats gains for both the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein. In England the Liberal Democrats performed well in local elections and also captured the Brent East constituency from Labour at a parliamentary by-election.