Social Factors: Age Flashcards
Correlations between age and party support in 1979
Strong correlation.
Labour:
- Young = 49%
- Elders = 28%
Conservative:
- Young = 27%
- Elders = 475
Stats for 1997
Conservative
+ 18-24 = 27%
+ 54-64 = 49%
Labour (less difference in age)
+ 18-24 = 49%
+ 54-64 = 41%
Youths voting for the third party data in 2015 general election for Green Party
- Increased - radical left, but not just on environmental issues.
+ 18-24yrs = 8%
+ 35-44yrs = 4%
+ 65+ yrs = 2%
Third party data in 2015 general election for SNP
Moderate left wing party with support for Scottish independence - prevalent on the youth.
- 18-24 = 5.5%
- 35-44 = 5%
- 65+ = 3.1%
Analysis of age on Scottish Independence (2014)
Because of the radical ideas, young people were more likely to vote leave. For example, 71% of 16-17 year old voted leave compared to 27% of 65+.
Analysis of age on Brexit (2016)
- The older the voter, the more likely they voted to leave the EU.
- 73% of 18-24 to remain.
- 40% of 65+ to remain.
Stats for 2017
Conservative
+ 18-24 = 18%
+ 54-64 = 59%
Labour
+ 18-24 = 67%
+ 54-64 = 23%
Reasons for patterns of age and voting behaviour
- Younger voters are more likely to vote Labour than Conservative - don’t wish to appear conservative.
- More likely to vote for the third party, the Liberal Democrats.
- Holds more left-wing views = heightened interest in equality, justice and freedom (Labour).
- Churchill said younger voters are more emotional whilst older voters are more rational - has fewer responsibilities and have radical ideas. Older gens see CP as family friendly, more security conscious and sympathetic to property owners.
Is age a significant factor
- Age has replaced class as the most important factor as the gap between how young people vote and how older people vote is far greater than the gap between how AB and DE vote, especially as class has declined in social importance.
- However, it must be noted that age has only appeared to be the most important factor for the past two elections.
