Participation crisis Flashcards
Question
Evaluate the view that the UK is currently suffering from a participation crisis.
Factors
- Voter turnout
- Membership
- Individual politics
Judgement
The UK is currently suffering from a participation crisis.
Weaker argument - voter turnout.
→ In 2018 a report argued that election turnout may be as much as 9% more than previously thought, this is because some people are registered in multiple areas such as students or second home owners.
→ Some would argue that for important decisions voting turnout is relatively high: Brexit referendum had a turnout of 72%.
→ There was a slow rise in voter turnout from 2001 to 2017, at the 2017 election the turnout was back up to 69%.
Stronger argument - voter turnout.
→ 2024 genera election: 60%.
→ Hansard Society Audit of Political Engagement:
- Only 58% would vote in an election.
- 47% felt they had no influence over national decision making.
→ In the 2024 general election in constituencies where one quarter of the population was 24-35 the turnout was 50% compared with constituencies where one quarter of the population was 65+ the turnout was 64%.
Weaker argument - membership
→ Ed Miliband reduced the Labour party joining fees to £3 this meant that party membership.
→ Since 2013 there has been a resurgence in Green and SNP membership.
Stronger argument - membership
→ 1953: 2.8 million in a political party. 2022: 172,000.
→ In the Hansard Society Audit of Political Engagement only 11% said they would join a political party and only 34% would claim they had a strong party allegiance.
Weaker argument - individual politics
→ Pressure groups: Just Stop Oil.
→ E-petitions: the Revoke Article 50 and Remain in the EU petition received over 6 million signatures.
Stronger argument - individual politics
→ Trade Union decline in membership: 13.2 million in 1979 and 6.2 in 2016.
→ Online systems are risky to use - in 2017 there were 6.4 million suspicious accounts.
