Paper 1: Voting behaviour and the media Flashcards
Scotland voting preferences and reasons
Left wing, traditionally Labour, but since 2015 there has been SNP dominance, return of Tories in 2017
Due to opposition to London-centred policies and New Right policies
Northern Ireland voting preferences and reasons
Has own party system split between DUP and Sinn Fein
Party votes reflects religious, cultural and ideological differences of the region
Wales voting preferences and reasons
Very heavy Labour bias with some strong Tory support
Because industrial areas favour Labour, rural areas vote Tory of Lib Dem, far west more likely to vote nationalist
London voting preferences and reasons
Majority Labour
Increased ethnic diversity, greater economic disparity across the city, reliance on public services
Rural England voting preferences and reasons
Overwhelmingly Conservative
Mostly white, economically and socially conservative
Industrial North voting preferences and reasons
Mostly Labour
Higher levels of unemployment than elsewhere inn the country, greater rates of poverty and urban decay
Home Counties voting preferences and reasons
Predominantly Conservative London commuter belt- economically prosperous and higher class status, mostly white, economically conservative
Why would people traditionally vote along class lines in the UK?
It was part of your identity, was an expression of class solidarity if you were a worker and voted Labour and an expression of status if you voted Conservative
Class AB description, typical occupations and % of population
High managerial, administrative, professional occupations
Banker, doctor, senior executive
22%
Class C1 description, typical occupations and % of population
Supervisory, clerical abd junior managerial positions
Teacher, office manager, IT manager
31%
Class C2 description, typical occupations and % of population
Skilled manual occupations
Plumber, hairdresser, mechanic, train driver
21%
Class DE description, typical occupations and % of population
Semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations unemployed and lowest grade occupations
Labourer, bar staff, employed
Does the class system still matter in UK politics? Yes:
Issues of tax and welfare remain key distinction between 2 main parties
many still identify with party identified with class
Geographical trends still reflect relative makeup of region
Class inequality and lack of social mobility remain major concern to most voters
Does the class system still matter in UK politics? No:
Major issues such as immigration cross class divisions Size and role of working class has declined by more than 1/2 making it less of a political presence Increasing property ownership and improved education make it difficult to categorise classes Successful parties have to appeal across a wide range of issues, not just relating to class
Examples of class dealignment
1964, 74% of AB citizens voted Conservative compared to just 40% in 2010
2017 46% AB citizens votes Conservative yet 42% of C2 voted Conservative too which is unexpected
Gender as a factor in voting behaviour
Virtually no difference between the way men and women vote
In the past there more women voted Conservative and there was a bid to win the ‘Tory Housewife’ vote
Recently parties have been making an effort to appeal to women e.g. Labour’s pink mini bus in 2015 and the all female shortlist from Labour party
2.5% fewer women turned out to vote than men
Age as a factor in voting behaviour
Younger voters tend to lean to the left an older voters to the right and older you are, the more likely to vote
47 is the age where people are most likely to switch from voting Labour to Tory
Pension reform, NHS are of most concern to the elderly who do vote so this where parties focus their campaign
But Corbyn in 2017 increased turnout in under 30s massively
Examples of how age is a factor in voting behaviour
18-19 19% Conservative 66% Labour 57% turnout
40-49 39% Conservative 44% Labour 66% turnout
70+ 69% Conservative 19% Labour 84% turnout
Ethnicity as a factor in voting behaviour
Strong link that black and minority ethnic (BME) vote Labour over Conservative possibly linked to economic factors because tend to be from lower classes
Also history of Conservative ant-immigrant attitude e.g Enoch Powell
Also large concentration of BME living in industrial
Examples of how ethnicity is a factor in voting behaviour
2017 21% Conservative 65% Labour
Individual factors that affect voting behaviour: Rational choice theory
Idea that ppl make logical choice based on own best interests overall
If everyone followed this then electoral victory would be in the best interests of the country
Individual factors that affect voting behaviour: Issue voting
Voters vote on one issue above all others, judge party on their stance of their issue and chooses one which reflects their own view
Individual factors that affect voting behaviour: Economic or valence issues
Valence is where voters share common preference and will elect party that has best competency so best to fulfill this role. If govt. does well first time, they will elect them again
Individual factors that affect voting behaviour: Tactical voting
Due to nature of FPTP, if fav candidate is unlikely to win, they will vote for second fav if they have more of a chance of winning e.g David Cameron in 2015 election
What is included in media?
Broadcasting, publishing, and internet as means of communication
