Voter Behaviour

Question 1

What are the names of all the social classes?

Answer 1

AB (Affluent Class), C1 (Upper Middle Class), C2 (Lower Middle Class), DE (Traditional Working Class).

Question 2

What party do AB voters vote for predominantly? What are the associated percentages?

Answer 2

Conservatives mainly (CONS 45%, LAB 26%, UKIP 8%).

Question 3

What party do C1 voters vote for predominantly? What are the associated percentages?

Answer 3

Conservatives mainly (CONS 41%, LAB 29%, UKIP 11%).

Question 4

What party do C2 voters vote for predominantly? What are the associated percentages?

Answer 4

Even split between Conservatives and Labour (CONS 32%, LAB 32%, UKIP 18%).

Question 5

What party do DE voters vote for predominantly? What are the associated percentages?

Answer 5

Labour (CONS 27%, LAB 41%, UKIP 17%)

Question 6

How did the DE vote change when it comes to SNP in the 2015 General Election?

Answer 6

SNP won 56 out of the 59 UK Parliamentary seats in Scotland, and was popular across all social classes.

Question 7

How did SNP perform across the social classes in the Scottish Parliament Elections (2016)?

Answer 7

Extremely well across all social classes.

Question 8

Why did SNP perform so well across all social classes in the Scottish Parliament Elections (2016)?

Answer 8

Two views:

1. “Nationalism is more important now rather than social class”.
2. “Labour MP says SNP stole Labour manifesto, which has lead to the belief that ‘SNP is more Labour than Labour’.”

Question 9

Does social class effect voter turnout?

Answer 9

Yes, greatly.

Question 10

What statistics reflect social class effecting voter turnout?

Answer 10

Glasgow North East (poor) had a low turnout in 2015 of 56%, Glasgow Pollock (Extremely poor) had only 45%, whereas Renfewshire East (Affluent) had a high turnout of 81%.

Question 11

Why do different social classes vote differently from eachother?

Answer 11

Different priorities mainly. Affluent voters are often more interested in the economy, whereas less affluent voters are more interested in social programs, immigration, health etc.

Question 12

How did social class effect the Scottish Independence referendum

Answer 12

Areas with high populations of poverty voted to leave the UK. Dundee (57% Yes), Glasgow (53% Yes), West Dunbartonshire (54% Yes), North Lanarkshire (51% Yes).

Question 13

What is the name of C2/DE voters and supporters of the conservative party?

Answer 13

“Blue Dog” Conservatives.

Question 14

How did AB voters vote in the Brexit Referendum, and why?

Answer 14

They were the only social class to vote to remain, and voted 57% to remain. This is likely due to different priorities than that of less affluent voters, as AB voters are more worried about the economic uncertainty of leaving the EU could possibly cause.

Question 15

How did C1 voters vote in the Brexit Referendum, and why?

Answer 15

C1 voters voted evenly for leave and remain, and the reasons vary from once again the economy, but immigration, culture, healthcare etc. for less affluent voters,

Question 16

How did C2DE voters vote in the Brexit Referendum, and why?

Answer 16

C2DE voters voted nearly two thirds (64%) in favour of leaving the EU. This is likely due to factors such as worries over immigration, culture, healthcare etc.

Question 17

How did Scotland vote in the Brexit Ref?

Answer 17

All 32 Scottish council areas voted to stay in the UK, overall 62% to 38% in favour of staying.

Question 18

How do whites vote compared to BMEs as a whole?

Answer 18

Whites: CONS 38%, LAB 28%, UKIP 14%
BMEs: CONS 23%, LAB 65%, UKIP 2%

Question 19

What were Leave campaigners accused of using during the leadup to the referendum?

Answer 19

“Dog Whistle Racism”.

Question 20

How did each race vote in the Brexit ref?

Answer 20

Whites - 53% Leave
Asians - 67% Remain
Blacks - 73% Remain

Question 21

Why do blacks not tend to vote Conservative?

Answer 21

The “nasty-party” reputation of indifferent to needs of ethnic minorities.

Question 22

How did different ages vote in the 2017 GE?

Answer 22

18-24: CONS 27%, LAB 43%, UKIP 8%
25-34: CONS 33%, LAB 36%, UKIP 10%
35-44: CONS 35%, LAB 35%, UKIP 10%
45-54: CONS 36%, LAB 33%, UKIP 14%
55-64: CONS 37%, LAB 31%, UKIP 14%
65+: CONS 47%, LAB 23%, UKIP 17%

Question 23

Why do people of other ages vote differently?

Answer 23

Young voters often vote for social change, but when you become older, you will on average become more socially and economically conservative.

Question 24

How did age affect the Brexit referendum?

Answer 24

60% of those aged 65+ voted to leave the EU compared to the 73% of 18-24 year olds voted tor remain.

Question 25

How did age affect the Scottish Indy Ref?

Answer 25

16-24: 51% Yes, 49% No
25-34: 59% Yes, 41% No
35-44: 53% Yes, 47% No
45-54: 52% Yes, 48% No
55-64: 43% Yes, 57% No
65+: 27% Yes, 73% No