Elections and Referendums

Question 1

Election results calculated and compared using different electoral systems

Answer 1

2019 - Conservatives
- FPTP, 365MPs
- PR, 288MPs
Lib Dems
- FPTP, 11MPs
- PR, 70MPs

Question 2

Should the UK replace first-past-the-post for Westminster elections?

Answer 2

Yes
- Fails to reflect voter share
- Uk only country in Europe to use FPTP
- Wasted votes
- Largest parties small voter share
- Encourages tactical voting

No
- Produces strong and stable governments
- Easy to undesrand
- Used in USA
- All other systems also have flaws

Question 3

Voting behaviour 2024 election

Answer 3

Age
- 18-29, 42% Labor, 8% Conservatives
Gender
- 40% men voted right, 38% women
Education
- High degree 42% Labor
Income
- Less than 20k 34%Labor, 24% Conservatives

Question 4

Voting behaviour 2019 election

Answer 4

Age
- 70+, 67% Conservatives, 14% Labor
Gender
- 46% men Conservative, 31% Labor

Question 5

Recent trends in voting behaviour

Answer 5

• Working class tend to voted left
• 2024 election 44% under 20k voted left, 41% voted right.

Question 6

1983 election

Answer 6

Results
- Thatcher 397 seats, 13m
- Labor lost seats to SDP, 209, 8m
Role of the media
- Sun vote for Maggie, criticised Foot
Manifestos
- Labor seen too left, Conservatives privatisation Brtish Airways
Voting system
- SDP, 23 seats but 7.7m votes

Question 7

1997 election

Answer 7

Results, Backgorund
- Conservatives divided over EU, 165 seats, 10m, LD 6m, 46 Seats
- Labor 418 seats, 14m
Role of the media
- Sun switched, Major to Blair
Manifestos
- New Labor constitutional reforms
- Conservatives not innovative

Question 8

2019 election

Answer 8

Results, Background
- Conservatives 365 seats, 14m
- Labor 203 seats, 10m, LD 11 seats
Role of the media
- Usage of social media, Labor spent 1.4m more on social media
Manifestos
- Get Brexit Done, Labor promised 2nd referendum, Lib Dem promised to rejoin EU.

Question 9

UK referendums

Answer 9

1975 Should UK stay in the EU
- Yes 68%, No 32%, turnout 64%
2011 AV referendum
- Yes 32%, No 68%, turnout 42%
2014 Scotland Independence
- Yes 55%, Not 45%, turnout 85%
2016 Brexit
- Remain 48%, Leave 52%, turnout 72%

Question 10

Advantages and disadvantages of referendums

Answer 10

Advantages
- Participation
- Can settle down controversies
- Democratic
- Greater use in Western Countries

Disadvantages
- Low turnout
- Yes or no questions
- Lack of education, 27% knew what EU was 2015
- Undermine the role of representative democracy