UK Politics: Voting behaviour and the media.

Question 1

What are the different social classes

Answer 1

AB – Upper class and upper middle class (from A - aristocracy to judges, company executives, down to B - other professionals like doctors, lawyers and teachers).

C1 – Lower middle class (other white collar workers such as
secretaries, bank clerks, general office workers, sales people).

C2 – Skilled working class (plumbers, electricians, builders, mechanics etc).

DE – Unskilled working class (factory workers, manual labourers, farm workers, cleaners and the unemployed).

Question 2

How has class based voting happened in British

Answer 2

Until the 1970s: working-class voted labour, upper-class people voted Conservative, more of the middle class voted liberal

Class de-alignment - less likely to identify with a particular social class so less likely to expect to vote a certain way. Plenty of people vote for the Conservatives that would be considered working-class which has become more prominent nowadays than it used to

Working-class Londoners moved out of places like Essex after slum clearance program in the 1960s

C2 voters excepted the enterprise culture in the 1980s so they started their own businesses bought their council homes and so started to vote Tory

Question 3

What is partisan Dealignment

Answer 3

In the wake of class dealignment, partisan dealignment has followed. 
Whilst it is still broadly true to say that wealthier people still tend to 
vote more Conservative than Labour and poorer people vice-versa, 
people in general are no longer loyal to one particular party purely 
due to the social class that they belong in.

Disillusion

Apathy

Question 4

What is the rational choice theory

Answer 4

The idea that voters behave like consumers deciding how to vote by evaluating what is the most beneficial option for them as individuals. Voters choose parties that offer policies that they prefer

This is due to a more educated electorate, more access to public information as a result of the Internet

The problem lies that it assumes that voters make rational choices based on knowledge of party policies, doesn’t explain elections where voters feel differently about different issues

Question 5

What are the questions associated with the reformed rational choice theory

Answer 5

Who is the best potential prime minister among the available party leaders

Who is expected to manage the economy most successfully

Who will provide the best quality public service

Question 6

How does governing competency and voter choice affect each other

Answer 6

Voters pass judgement on the governing competency of the main parties for example the voters voted for labour in 2001 and 2005 but abandon the party in 2010 due to the financial crisis and the ensuing recession

For a party in office this means assessing how successful they managed the business of government. Policy success importantly the management of the economy together with evidence of a clear agenda and United, strong leadership

In the case of the opposition party, Voters are deciding on its potential governing competency if they got into office

Question 7

What is a different variation of the rational choice theory

Answer 7

The economic voting model.

That the voters are more likely to support a governing party if it has managed the economy successfully on the other hand they can give support to a party likely to deliver economic prosperity

Voters may be influenced by factors such as inflation unemployment interest-rate and taxation or more generally by a sense of well-being known as the feelgood factor

For example the 2010 general election where labour lost their position in office to the Conservatives as a result of The economic crisis

Question 8

How does the image of party leaders affect who voters voted for

Answer 8

This is because politics has become more personalised = presidentialation

Bless failed to come across as a dynamic assured leader in the 2010 election

The use of photo opportunities have become staged managed to avoid awkward encounters with members of the public who may react in a negative manner

Instead meetings feature cheering crowds do not really involve the general public but involve trusted supporters

Question 9

How has gender affected the way people vote

Answer 9

Historically Women had a strong preference to the Conservatives 10 mil voters this may be because women favoured a stable society and because they were the main carers in most households they liked Tory emphasis on family

In the Tony Blair years Younger women voted labour slightly more than men could be because by the 1990s women were likely to have jobs outside the homeAnd may have responded well to new labours Family friendly policies such as free nursery places

All the women are more likely to vote conservative than younger women.

Men generally vote for the Conservatives changes dramatically after the age of 60

Question 10

How has age affected the way people vote

Answer 10

Older people have a greater tendency than the younger people to vote Conservative as they own their own properties they will vote for the party that will protect their material interest And that they do not vote ideologically or with the aspiration of fundamentally changing society

Political outlook is shaped by a voters experience. All the voters today will remember the difficulties faced by the Labour government in the 1970s when trade unions enjoyed a greater power so more likely to support Conservatives. Not a factor for voters in their 20s

In 2015 45% of the 60+ years old voted Conservative Whilst 18 to 29-year-olds Only 32% voted Conservative in recognition David Cameron did not cut pensioner benefits

Older people are more likely than the younger to vote. The elderly have acquired the habit of voting earlier in their lives and see elections as having an impact on their lives whilst young people are more likely to feel alienated from the political system as it has not significantly change their lives

Question 11

How has ethnicity affected the way people vote

Answer 11

Ethnic minorities are traditionally more inclined to labour

As members of minorities are disproportionately employed in low-wage jobs they are less likely to vote Conservative

Exception is that Asians are more likely to support Conservatives than Africans because the Conservatives emphasise on small business values

Overall ethnic minorities remained loyal to labour with 25% of ethnic minorities are voting labour in the 2017 election

Ethnicity is also lower in comparison to weights in voter turnout

Question 12

How does the region affect the way that people would

Answer 12

Most voters in the south except London and in rural areas and suburbs- high levels of employment and house ownership - Conservative supporters

In industrial and urban areas in the north of England, Wales and the Midlands-poorer areas of the country-stronger loyalty to labour

When conflict was more marked turn out tended to be higher because voters were more concerned about the outcome

Question 13

What are the figures to show that the newspapers and TV are still important forms of media to influence elections

Answer 13

Many people still read the newspapers online which makes journalism still important for elections

Television dominates the coverage of the election. For the 2019 election debate of the two main Party leaders had viewership numbers of 6.7 million people

Question 14

What are the problems associated with opinion polls

Answer 14

People are not willing to admit to who they voted for when questioned face-to-face so they changed to telephone calls

An enquiry found polling firms had not served a representative section of the national vote

Question 15

How accurate are opinion polls

Answer 15

Opinion polls have always been influential, but have failed to predict results on previous occasions – 1992, 2015, 2016 Brexit Referendum and this year, 2017.

Opinion polls use various methods of gathering information -telephone, face-to-face, online.

Question 16

How has new types of media influenced elections

Answer 16

MPs started to have their own websites as an important way for the public to learn about the activities and to communicate with them

In 2015 the Conservative party reportedly spent £100,000 a month on Facebook advertising In the US, Obama effectively used new platforms (as they were then) such as Snapchat and Instagram to reach younger audiences. E.g. ‘micro-targeting’.

In 2015, 79% of young people relied exclusively on online sources for their news, although older voters, who are more likely to vote, still preferred print and TV media.

The failure of young people to turn out in the Brexit referendum in 2016 led to a huge social media, particularly by the Labour Party to rally young voters in 2017.

The Conservatives have recently admitted that they are playing catch-up to Labour in this area and need to do more.

Political leaders have become more conscious of a favourable image in the media and are seeking to control news agenda as far as possible for instance with the appointments of press secretaries

The importance of the media is seen as governments have increasingly made important policy announcements on television rather than in the houses of commons

Question 17

Why is the media important for a democratic society

Answer 17

The free media is a feature of a healthy democracy and can play A role in holding the government to account especially as Parliamentary opposition is weak

But particular newspapers tend to present an simplified interpretation of political issues focusing exclusively on personalities and newspaper owners are primarily interested in boosting their circulation figures and cannot be held to account

Question 18

What is the media bias

Answer 18

Newspapers are generally more politically inclined towards a certain party for instance the Telegraph being more conservative leaning

But newspaper loyalty is due change as time goes as the Sun began as a Labour supporting party but switched to the Conservatives in the mid 70s in response to Margaret Thatcher‘s hard-line approach to trade unions as it was good for business interest

TelevisionIs less bias as they have to give an impartial and fair view on politics especially on big channels like the BBC and ITV and Channel 5 but Channel 4 News is more liberal

Question 19

How much influence do media have on the public

Answer 19

Most people read newspapers that broadly reflect their outlook so newspapers usually confirm their readers existing political views

The importance of the press as a reflection of public opinion should not be discounted as the winning party of recent elections have been supported by the majority of the press. The press may also shape the political agenda through the way it covers political issues

The influence of television was cited as the strongest influence in the helping form an opinion in the 2015 election.The negative coverage of Jeremy Corbyn And his party in the 2019 elections so then lose a large majority of seats

Question 20

What is the background information of the 1979 general election

Answer 20

By March 1977 Labour had become a minority government after several by-election
defeats, and from March 1977 to August 1978 Callaghan governed by an agreement with
the Liberal Party through the Lib-Lab pact.

A series of industrial disputes in the winter of 1978–79, dubbed the “Winter of Discontent”, led to widespread strikes across the country and seriously hurt Labour’s standings in the polls.

When the Scottish National Party (SNP) withdrew support for the Scotland Act 1978, a vote of no confidence was held and passed by one vote on 28 March 1979, forcing Callaghan to call a general election.

As the previous election had been held in October 1974, Labour could have held on until the autumn of 1979 if it had not been for the lost confidence vote.

Margaret Thatcher had won her party’s 1975 leadership election over former leader Edward Heath.

David Steel had replaced Jeremy Thorpe as leader of the Liberal Party in 1976, after allegations of homosexuality and conspiracy to murder his former lover forced Thorpe to resign. The Thorpe affair led to a fall in the Liberal vote after what was thought to be a
breakthrough in the February 1974 election.

Question 21

What were the party policies and manifesto in the 1979 general election

Answer 21

Both parties prioritised bringing down inflation

Challaghan was a traditional centre right and he resisted pressures for the party left-wing policies. while thatchers policy statement contained Little indication that she intended to move the party to the right

This meant that when Challaghan warned the electorate of a move to the right if the Conservatives won it had little credibility.

Question 22

What was the election campaign like during the 1979 general election

Answer 22

The Conservatives adopted many of the techniques of modern advertising under the guidance of two professional publicity specialist

The Labour campaign lacked awareness of the finer points of presentation whilst such approved open to her advisors invention of photo opportunities

Opinion polls had the Conservatives ahead of labour but when asked who would be better prime minister, Challaghan was ahead of Thatcher

Question 23

What were the results of the 1979 general election

Answer 23

Big swing to the Conservatives amongst the skilled working class, the C2 voters.

Swings to the Tories most pronounced in the south east and London.

Swing to Labour in Scotland following a fall in support for the SNP.

Liberals managed to minimise their losses, despite the Thorpe affair.

Real reason for Thatcher’s victory was the unpopularity of the Labour government after the ‘Winter of Discontent’.

Question 24

Why was the 1979 election described as a watershed moment in politics

Answer 24

It ushered in 18 years of continuous Conservative government.

The Thatcher government abandoned the post war political consensus which had always regarded tackling unemployment as it’s key priority.

The new government put tackling inflation at the top of its agenda.

Keynesian economic policy was rejected and in favour of supply side economic monetarism.

Free market, privatisation, the sale of council houses, reduction in the power of train unions and the deregulated free market were all to come in the ‘80’s.

For Labour, it was a period of disaster and then gradual rebirth.

Labour received its lowest share of votes and seats since 1918 under leader Michael Foot in 1983.

Under subsequent leaders however: Neil Kinnock, John Smith and Tony Blair, it gradually accepted many of the Thatcherite reforms and positioned itself back towards the centre by the mid ‘90’s.

Question 25

What was the background information of the 1997 general election

Answer 25

The British economy had been in recession at the time of the 1992 election, which the Conservatives had won, and although the recession had ended within a year, events such as Black Wednesday had tarnished the Conservative government’s reputation for economic management.

Labour had elected John Smith as its party leader in 1992, but his death from heart attack in 1994 led the way for Tony Blair to become Labour leader.

Blair brought the party closer to the political centre and abolished the party’s Clause IV in their constitution, which had committed them to mass nationalisation of industry.

Labour also reversed its policy on unilateral nuclear disarmament and the events of Black Wednesday allowed Labour to promise greater economic management under the Chancellorship of Gordon Brown.

Disputes within the Conservative government over European Union issues, and a variety of “sleaze” allegations had severely affected the government’s popularity.

Question 26

What was the manifesto for the 1997 general election league

Answer 26

A manifesto, entitled New Labour, New Life For
Britain was released in 1996 and outlined 5 key
pledges:

Class sizes to be cut to 30 or under for 5, 6 and 7 year olds by using money from the assisted places scheme.

Fast track punishment for persistent young offenders, by halving the time from arrest to sentencing.

Cut NHS waiting lists by treating an extra 100,000 patients as a first step by releasing £100 million saved from NHS red tape.

Get 250,000 under 25 year olds off benefit and into work by using money from a windfall levy on the privatised utilities.

No rise in income tax rates, cut VAT on heating to 5%, and keeping inflation and interest rates as low as possible.

Question 27

What was the election campaign like in the 1997 general election

Answer 27

It employed public relations experts to handle the media using focus groups to assess public opinion and systematically targeted marginal seats rather than safe seats. Shares of votes increased by 12.5% in targeted seats but in neglected constituencies votes increased by 13.4%

The parties lead in the opinion polls actually declined in the course of the campaign

Question 28

What were the results of the 1997 general election

Answer 28

Largest majority since 1945 for any party.

Most seats ever won by Labour.

Lowest Tory share of the vote since 1832.

No Tory MP’s left in Scotland or Wales.

Highest Liberal Democrat or Liberal seat total since the 1920’s.
(Tactical voting played its part here between Labour and LibDem
voters).

All social class groups saw a big swing to Labour.

Most newspapers were behind Labour.

Question 29

Why was the 1997 general election a watershed election

Answer 29

Statistical records were broken - 418 seats

Significant middle class support for Labour.

End of 18 years of Conservative government.

Ushered in 13 years of Labour government.

Devolution for Scotland and Wales followed.

Other constitutional reforms.

Question 30

Why wasn’t the 1997 general election a watershed election

Answer 30

Thatcherite reforms were not reversed.

‘New Labour’ pursued more or less the same economic policies as previous Tory governments.

Question 31

What is the background information of the 2010 general election

Answer 31

Labour was campaigning for a fourth consecutive term in office

Conservatives wanted to gain the position of government

Liberal Democrats hope to gain and to hold the balance of power in a hung parliament

Polls just before election day saw a slight swing from the Liberal Democrats back to Labour and Conservatives, with the majority of final polls falling within one point of Conservatives 36%, Labour 29%, Liberal Democrats 23%.

Scottish Nationalist party set it self a target of 20 MPs because of the victory in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election

Smaller parties who had success in local elections wanted to extend the representation in the House of Commons

All three main party leaders had changed since the 2005 election
David Cameron for the Conservatives, Gordon Brown for labour and Nick Clegg for the Liberal Democrats

Gordon Brown made a comment about the possibility of a coalition in January 2010, the senior civil servant made meetings with Liberal Democrats to discuss their policies in case of a hung parliament

Question 32

What were the party policies and manifesto of the 2010 general election

Answer 32

There was little difference between the three main parties

Reduce the budget deficit

Allthree parties pledge to make savings without sacrificing public services

The difference was on the timing and the extent of public spending cuts

The Conservatives called for immediate cuts while their rivals wanted to cut spending gradually therefore affecting the recovery of the economy after the recession

Conservatives focused on labours mismanagement of the economy accusing them of reckless overspending and failure to regulate the banking system

Question 33

What was the election campaign like for the 2010 general election

Answer 33

The Conservatives began targeting marginal seats very early, market testing policies with photos and emphasising their support for public services

Labour and Gordon Brown’s unscripted meeting with a voter. She embarrassed him with a hostile question about immigration, A microphone picked him up describing her as a bigoted woman and had little significance

Was the decision to hold televised debates featuring the three party leaders. Gordon Brown came across rather wooden and his tendency to reply I agree with Nick was derailed at the time.
Nick Clegg experienced a boost in the opinion polls after the first of three debates which felt before polling day

Question 34

What was the result of the 2010 general election

Answer 34

Labour’s vote fell to 29%, their second lowest since 1918.

The Conservatives, whilst emerging as the largest party still couldn’t win a majority.

Despite predictions they would gain seats, the Lib Dems actually lost 5 seats.

No breakthrough for the SNP.

Greens won their first ever seat – Caroline Lucas in Brighton Pavilion.

From the Lib Dem perspective, despite talks with Labour immediately after the election, it became clear that the only viable government would be a Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition.

Question 35

Why is the 2010 general election considered a watershed election

Answer 35

It led to the formation of the first peace-time coalition since the 1920’s.

The Liberal Democrats were given 5 cabinet posts and junior ministers in every government department.

The Lib Dem influence in government helped lead to the introduction of same-sex marriage.

The Lib Dems did however have to ditch their commitment to dropping student tuition fees.

The collapse in Lib Dem support was very rapid. The party was battered by local council election losses and reduced to just 8 seats (down from 57) in the 2015 election.

It was the first election where social media played a key part.