Democracy in UK- Voting Behaviour Flashcards
What are some general statements we could make about voting behaviour?
It is complex and has many different dimensions. Many argue social class is the most important factor, however in more recent years modern voters are more increasingly influenced by the media, which gives the party more publicity and gives their place more prominence
Name 5 factors which influence voting behaviour?
Social class The scale of class dealignment The impact of the media The effect of 'age and stage' Short term factors
(Social class) what did Peter Pulzer famously say? And when did he say it?
In 1967 Peter Pulzer famously said “class is the basis of British Party Politics, all else is embellishment and detail”
To an extent this is still true today
(Social class) What are the traditional voting patterns?
Middle and higher class voters tend to vote conservative and working class tend to vote for labour, and in Scotland now SNP
(Social class) Do these old voting patterns still stand today?
Yes, with around 2 thirds of working class voters voting for the Labour Party
(Social class) what can we say about this as an influential factor overall?
Although some people may try to hide their class, and change positions in the scale, we cannot change our upbringing so class will have a heavy influence on voters, subconsciously or otherwise.
Social class is unavoidable and evident today even in modern Britain
(Voting dealignment) what has happened in recent years?
There is common agreement that the UK has experienced some degree of voting de alignment. In more recent years people from all classes are breaking away from their ‘traditional’ vote
(Voting dealignment) what is happening now?
It is not always true that higher class voters will always vote conservative, people are now voting more based on other factors in their lives, not explicitly by class.
It may be true that certain working class people may agree more on Conservative party policy than SNP or Labour and so will break away and vote for them instead.
(Voting dealignment) what can we say about this as an influential factor overall?
Overall voting dealignment plays a part in voting behaviour however not to a great extent.
Many voters are loyal to one party and tend to vote for them all their lives, which is usually dictated by class. (With the exception of Labour in Scotland)
(The media) Are newspapers biased?
Yes, newspapers are notoriously biased towards certain parties, for example the Daily Record supports Labour and the Telegraph supports Conservative
(The media) are newspapers influential towards voting behaviour?
To an extend the newspapers we buy can influence our political views
Newspapers set the political agenda by choosing what to cover
The owners of newspaper and TV companies can be key to winning elections
(The media) is the media more influential now than it previously was?
Although there media has always influenced our voting, the intensity and variety of coverage has never been greater, with information available at the click of a button
(The media) what percentage of people watch TV at least once a week?
96%
(The media) do people trust TV?
TV is regulated and trusted, therefore people believe what they see and hear
(The media) what percentage of adults claim TV is their main source of political information?
51%
(The media) Does the internet influence voting behaviour?
The internet is the fastest growing media form and certainly has a part to play in influencing voters
(The media) Can the internet be trusted?
Many sites are biased and unregulated so not all information can be trusted
(The media) How do politicians use the internet to their advantage?
Political parties all have websites and politicians now have Instagram and twitter accounts to further interact with the public
(The media) what can we say about this as an influential factor overall?
The media does influence voting behaviour to some extent. However perhaps the media only reinforces people’s attitudes towards parties and their members. Not change them.
(Age and stage) how does this impact voting behaviour?
They have always been important when considering the way people vote,
With those under 30 tending to be more socialist and ‘extreme’ in their views.
(Age and stage) why does voting behaviour change with age?
The younger voters are at the beginning of their career so at the lower end of their eating potential, with fewer family responsibilities.
However as people get older their voting behaviour changes to more ‘rational choice’ voting. They are less idealistic and tend to view socialism as impractical
(Age and stage) how can the impact of this be shown?
In the 2014 referendum, SNP and independence appealed more to the younger voters
(Age and stage) what can we say overall about this as an influential factor?
It has a large impact on voting behaviour. Our current responsibilities change as we get older
Name 3 short term factors which influence voting behaviour
Scandals
Leader personality
Economic events
(Short term) why does leader personality play a part in voting influence today?
We live in a media dominated age, and the image of a leader plays a big part.
For example Ed Miliband was treated harshly on the basis of his looks and Jeremy Corbyn is portrayed as ‘too old’ and ‘dull’ despite his rebellious political views
(Short term) what image seems to work best now?
A bland but inoffensive image tends to work well generally. However some politicians stand out due to their image in a good way, Boris Johnson is eccentric
This image can make or break a person and impact heavily on their party
(Short term) what else do people vote based upon?
Current issues such as unemployment, education and war.
For example Tony Blair’s involvement in war lost him popularity and ultimately ended his time as Primer Minister
(Short term) what can we say overall about this as an influential factor?
These factors do have a significant part to play in influencing voting behaviour, particularly leader image can be very influential to voters
