Elections Flashcards
What is class dealignment?
Where people no longer vote according to their social class
what is partisan dealignment?
The idea that people are less committed or loyal to one particular party
What is voter apathy?
Not voting because a person does not care about the election.
2010
Did the TV leaders debate influence election results? (yes/no)
Cameron v Brown
’ I agree with Nick’ - statement made repeatedly by Brown and Cameron during the debate
yes: The performance of Nick Clegg raised his profile at the expense of Cameron and Brown’s - resulted in a hung parliament
- an instant poll gave him 43 percent support, against 26 percent for Cameron and 20 percent for Brown.
no: Lib dems only increased their share of the vote by 1% and lost seats in the election
- Cleggmania” didn’t last long after the first debate - fter the first debate, Mr Cameron and Mr Brown ensured for the next round of debates they would tackle him in a much more effective way.
1979 election -
Did the sun headline influence election results? (yes/no)
Callaghan v Thatcher
‘crisis what crisis’ - A headline in the sun in relation to the winter of discontent
yes: Although he never actually said it, this headline suggested that Callaghan was out of touch with ordinary voters and swung opinion
- change in WC attitude who suffered the worst at hands of winter of discontent
no: opinion polls showed Callaghan as labour’s strongest asset = eg. 30th of april 1979, he was ahead by 0.7% - and a trailblazer before they imposed the pay policy - which made people want the government out despite liking Callaghan
Why did Margaret Thatcher appear as the stronger opponent?
- played her gender role to her advantage
- She was seen as the only person who could deal with the trade unions
What problems were there just before the 1979 election?
- Winter of discontent
- Unemployment was over a million, inflation was rising
1997 election
Did the sun switching support influence election results? (yes/no)
Blair v Major
Yes: After Tony Blair met with murdoch, the Sun, which is traditionally a right wing newspaper, declared support for labour, leading to many voters switching allegiance
‘it must be you’
‘the sun backs blair’
No: The press was simply reacting to the prevailing mood at the time, which was clearly swinging towards labour
Labour had been well ahead for weeks averaging at 19% lead
Why was the conservative party weak in 1997
- Sleaze = 12 resignations and a few went to jail
- Pound crashed under conservatives
Why did Blair win in 1997?
- éducation, education education = public interest
- playing into public interests
Who did the sun support in 1997?
tony blair - ‘it must be you’
What did each party focus on in the 2017 elections?
con = Brexit
lab = welfare provision
Lib Dems = second referendum
Why did Theresa may appear weak?
Didn’t participate in televised debate
Two terrorist attacks took place 2 weeks before the election = questioned conservatives rules on law and order
2019 election
Johnson v Corbyn
why did labour lose votes
people thought there were too many new policies
Wanted a revote and leavers felt ignored
Corbyn = ppl didn’t like his antisemetic views
Why did the conservatives gain votes
Get brexit done = simple message
Seen as stronger than theresa
How did the 2010 MPs scandal influence the elections?
undermined the MPs reputation
Despite this, turnout was 4% higher than in 2005
How did the 2010 ‘I agree with Nick’ affect the election
Raised Nick Clegg’s profile at the expense of camerons
2017
Did the TV leaders debate influence election results? (yes/no)
May vs Corbyn
yes: Theresa May’s refusal to participate became a means of attacking her and a weakness
- after Corbyn participated = labour gained credibility
no: May went to win more votes than cameron had in 2010 or 2015 - corbyn still lost
examples of newspapers claiming influence over people’s votes
1992 - ‘SUN WOT WON IT’ backed major over kinnock
1997 - claimed victory
limitation = reflects the mood at the time
example of the print media being ineffectice
2019 - ‘don’t put britain in the Cor bin’ - right leaning
limitation: labour increased both vote share and number of seats - peole are more likely to read newspapers that align with their views
example of social media working well for labour
2017 = 60% of 18-24 year olds voted for the
example of social media not working well for labour
2019 = outspent conservatives by 1.4m to 900,00 yet still lost
example of the media not affecting the view of a politician
2019 = BOJO repeatedly refused to engage in tv opportunities eg. TV leaders debate
- went into a fridge to avoid questions
didn’t harm him in the election
Nick clegg did well in tv debate but still lost
Support from the media is the most important factor in deciding the outcome of elections (1997)
1997
- Blair met with murdoch, the Sun, which is traditionally a right wing newspaper, declared support for labour, leading to many voters switching allegiance
‘it must be you’
‘the sun backs blair’
The press was simply reacting to the prevailing mood at the time
New wave of labour - third way can be argued to have had more of an impact = fresh outlook
- centrism = reconcile right wing economic policies and left wing social policies
- Blair changed the labour party
Support from the media is the most important factor in deciding the outcome of elections (2010)
2010
- ‘ I agree with Nick’ - statement made repeatedly by Brown and Cameron during the debate
yes: The performance of Nick Clegg raised his profile at the expense of Cameron and Brown’s - resulted in a hung parliament
- an instant poll gave him 43 percent support - first time back in power since 1966
no: increased their share of the vote by 1% and lost seats in the election
MPs expenses scandal 2009 exposed by the telegraph caused labour MPs to lose seats - seen as untrustworthy
\However turnout was 4% higher than in 2005 - some may say that labour was going to lose anyway due to 2008 financial collapse
support of the media is important how voters percieve candidates
Support from the media is the most important factor in deciding the outcome of elections (2019)
2019 = BOJO repeatedly refused to engage in tv opportunities eg. TV leaders debate
- went into a fridge to avoid questions
didn’t harm him in the election
OTHER FACTORS:
-policies + social factors = BREXIT = people had clearer understanding of what con wanted to do = get brexit done
- labour = more wishy washy
PRINT media -NO
- 1992, major
- 1997, Blair
- 2019 - corbyn
limitation - reflects the mood of today
- newspapers claimed victory in the past eg. ‘‘wot won it ‘’ 1992 Major , similair in blairs new labour 1997
- backed conservatives in 2017 - attacked corbyns socialist policies
limitation : reflects public opinion rather than creates it - SUN ‘'’dont put britain in the corbyn’’ 2017
- labour party increased vote share and votes
- those who read the mail and sun do so as they align with their views
not influential
SOCIAL M - no
- corbyn IRA
- 2017 - age
- labour outspent
- corbyns connections with the IRA spread by social media rather tham mainstream media or political parties
- people are more likely to see information that doesnt align with their views
- worked well for labour party in 2017 = encouraged 60% of 18-24 year olds to vote for them - young ppl use social media more
limitation : labour outspent conservatives by 900,00 on SM in 2019 still lost
- social media campaign to unseat boris uxbridge - failed spectacularly
Politicians set agenda for themselves
2019 - Johnson
- 2010 i stand with nick
- 2019 - Boris johnos repeatedly refused to engage in TV oppertunities he was offered - didnt attend TV leader debate and didnt take part in iterview with Andre Neill
- avoid journalists by retreating into a fridge
- none of this harmed him electorally - won victory
“I stand with nick ‘’ - only increased vote share by 1% and lost 5 seats
