On the surface - The Visualization of Spatial Social Structure - page 205

1985 County Council Elections: English Voting Composition

The position of the circle
indicates the composition
of votes in that division.

Every electoral division won by one
of the three major parties is shown

by a circle on the diagram.

The area of the circle is in
proportion to the total vote.

Distance from each apex

measures the support for a

party from total to none.

Alliance

Independent candidates are

100%

Divisions falling on the
sides of the triangle are
projected as a histogram
of two party support.

counted as Conservative
where no Conservative
opposed Labour or
Liberal nominees.

Labour

Conservative

100% 100%

Figure 7.5 Now 2939 electoral divisions are projected on the electoral triangle
with two-way contests drawn as histograms on the sides and uncontested wins as
lines on the corners, with circle size in proportion to the total vote. The rise to
the Alliance Party, from the situation in 1981, is clear, but a massing away from
the Labour Party, up against the Alliance/Conservative axis can also be seen.