Factors Which Influence Voting Behavior

Question 1

Where do Conservatives typically do well in?

Answer 1

White, rural or surburban and socially conservative areas

Question 2

Where do Labour typically do well in, since 2005?

Answer 2

Industrial urban areas

Question 3

Which party does well in Scotland and why?

Answer 3

SNP, because they oppose London centred policies and new right (prefer devolution and solutions to specific social and economic problems on Scotland).

Question 4

Which party finds more general success in Wales?

Answer 4

Labour, because Industrial areas and the west is generally more nationalist.

Question 5

Which party does well in N.Ireland?

Answer 5

Has it’s own party system with unionist and nationalist views (religious and cultural differences).

Question 6

Which party succeeds in London?

Answer 6

Majority Labour (ethnic diversity, economic differences, public service reliance, socially liberal).

Question 7

Which party does better in Rural England?

Answer 7

Overwhelmingly Conservative (Mostly white, economically and socially conservative)

Question 8

Which party does better in Industrial North England?

Answer 8

Labour, they focus on unemployment, poverty (there is alot of in this area) and it is ethnically diverse.

Question 9

Which party finds more support in Home Counties?

Answer 9

Mainly Conservative (upper classes on London commuter belt, mostly white, economically prosperous).

Question 10

Until when did class largely determine voting behavior?

Answer 10

1980s

Question 11

How do the classes typically vote?

Answer 11

A, B, C1 Conservative (middle class) - C2, D, E Labour (working class)

Question 12

In what year did 88% if the votes go to the two main parties because of class based choice over employment and inflation?

Answer 12

1970

Question 13

What is class dealignment?

Answer 13

When people no longer vote with their social class.

Question 14

There has been an increase is partisan dealignment, what is it?

Answer 14

When people don’t vote for the same consistently (swing voters).

Question 15

What did the increase in partisan dealignment lead to?

Answer 15

6 key parties in 2015, although 82% of the vote went to the 2 main parties.

Question 16

Why is the female vote desirable?

Answer 16

Women are less likely to vote.

Question 17

How have Labour targeted women to gain their vote?

Answer 17

2015 visited 75 constituencies and spoke specifically to women and in 1997 Blair Introduced women only short lists.

Question 18

How have the Conservatives attempted to gain the female vote?

Answer 18

2014 Cameron worked to increase number of female MP’s and Sid the Conservatives would “lead the change on women’s equality”.

Question 19

Is gender still a key determining factor?

Answer 19

Not really, 2017 equal split with women vote, 6% men vote conservative. Small differences in party choice too, in 2015, 6% more women vote Labour.

Question 20

What’s the difference of opinion between what men and women prioritise?

Answer 20

Women prioritise health and education, Men prioritise Foreign policy and nuclear power.

Question 21

How does ethnicity affect voting behavior roughly?

Answer 21

White lean right, Non-white lean left (2010, 68% ethnic minority support labour)

Question 22

Why do Non-white tend to vote against conservatives?

Answer 22

Legacy of anti-minority campaigning, 1968 “river of blood” speech against anti-discrimination legislation. More ethnic groups in industrial areas. Increased immigration after 1950s. Labour policies on social equality benefit new citizens.

Question 23

How does age affect voting behavior?

Answer 23

Older they are, more likely they are to vote, young left old right.

Question 24

Why does online polling tend not to reflect results?

Answer 24

Focuses on young people, they often don’t vote in the real thing.

Question 25

Give an example of when a party has tailored their policies according to age.

Answer 25

Conservatives support pensions and increase uni fees

2017 69% 70+ vote Tory, 66% 18-19 vote labour

Question 26

Did Corbyn find success targeting young people in the 2017 election?

Answer 26

Yes Labour won 2/3 of under 30s vote.