Influences on Voting Behaviour

Question 1

Why does race influence voting behaviour?

Answer 1

Reputation of conservatives and parties such as UKIP and BNP - these are known for racism and anti-immigrant views, e.g Windrush scandal.

Swing towards UKIP due to anti-immigration policies meant conservatives brought in similar policies to bring back voters.

Question 2

What percentage of white people vote conservative?

Answer 2

48% or almost half

Question 3

What percentage of BME people vote con?

Answer 3

20% or 1/5

Question 4

What is the influence of gender on voting behaviour?

Answer 4

In 1997, Labour won an 11% swing in female vote, but since gender has been of low significance (less than 5%)

Question 5

What is the influence of age on voting behaviour?

Answer 5

Young people more likely to vote labour due to their policies such as free uni tuition.

More affordable housing would disproportionately benefit younger middle class voters.

Young voters were heavily “remain” in Brexit, so did not then vote conservative as they promised to deliver it.

Question 6

What percentage of people aged 18-24 vote con?

Answer 6

19%

Question 7

What percentage of people aged 65+ vote con?

Answer 7

64%

Question 8

What is the influence of social class on voting behaviour?

Answer 8

Classes said to have “natural party”: ABC1s vote con and have greater turnout. C2DEs vote lab and outnumber ABC1s but have lower turnout.

Lab anti-austerity appeals to DE who rely on social security more.

Con tax cuts appeal to ABC1s as they are mostly higher earners.

Question 9

What was the ratio of con to lab in 2017 amongst C2s?

Answer 9

47%:40%

Question 10

Who are main floating voters?

Answer 10

C2s

Question 11

What is the influence of the media on voting behaviour?

Answer 11

New media influences younger people, however this group is less likely to vote.

Traditional media is influential with older people.

Question 12

What is the influence of education on voting behaviour?

Answer 12

This is an increasingly good predictor of voting.

People in further/higher education are more likely to vote labour.

Question 13

Which party leads the other amongst
• non graduates
• graduates
and by how much?

Answer 13

Con lead by 17%
Lab lead by 15%

Question 14

Of people who own housing, what percentage vote:
• con?
• lab?

Answer 14

57%
22%

Question 15

What is the influence of housing tenure on voting behaviour?

Answer 15

People who rent are more likely to vote labour, whereas people who mortgage or own their housing are more likely to vote con.

Question 16

What is the influence of geography on voting behaviour?

Answer 16

Wales, the North of England, and urban areas tend to vote labour.

Scotland tends to vote SNP.

The South and rural areas tend to vote Con.

Question 17

Why does geography go against class in terms of influencing voting behaviour?

Answer 17

People of middle class in the north are more likely to vote lab than con, while people of working class in the south are more likely to vote con than lab.

Question 18

What is the Neighbourhood Effect?

Answer 18

People living in an area dominated by a particular party are more likely:
to vote for that party,
to vote for the same party as friends and family,
or to turn to tactical voting.

Question 19

In London, the South’s main urban area, what fraction of MPs are Lab?

Answer 19

2/3

Question 20

What is the influence of Public/private sector divides on voting behaviour?

Answer 20

The private sector is stronger in the South, where Con is often elected.

Lab anti-austerity appeals to public sector workers who are most concentrated in the North.

Question 21

What percentage of teachers voted
• Con
• Lab
in 2017?

Answer 21

8%
68%