The impact of region on voting behaviour Flashcards
Which part of England is much wealthier than the rest?
The southeast corner
Which areas of England are very solidly conservative?
The south, and to a lesser extent the midlands
Which city holds the largest number of Labour votes in the country?
London
In what region of the country does Labour hold a marginal lead?
The north
How has voting changed in Scotland?
It has gone from being a Labour stronghold before 2010 to being dominated by the SNP
Which party is dominant in Wales?
Although, this is based largely on the support they receive in the industrial south of Wales
Where do the Lib Dems enjoy virtually all of their support?
London and the south
Why is it inevitable that Labour will poll well in Wales and the north?
Because they have deep roots and strong local party organisations there
Why is conservative dominance in the south understandable?
Because they have long dominated political culture in rural, suburban areas
How can regional alignment be traced back to economic factors?
Because there are many more depressed and declining areas in the north of England, Wales and Scotland
Why is it difficult to factor Northern Ireland into this conversation?
Because they have their own unique political culture and the major English parties do not compete there
Give an example of how a single issue has trumped regional voting habits in a recent general election
In 2019, the conservatives gained seats in the north in what have been traditionally Labour supporting areas. This was mostly down to Brexit, causing Boris Johnson to state that these areas had ‘lent them their votes’
