Voting behaviour Flashcards
What are some key facts about the 1945 election?
Turnout: 72.8%
Labour Party (Clement Attlee) - Seats won: 393 for Vote share: 47.7%
Conservative Party (Winston Churchill)
Seats won: 197 (-189 from 1935)
Vote share: 39.7%
What does the result of the 1945 election show?
Labour’s landslide reflected the public’s desire for post-war reconstruction and a welfare state, rejecting Churchill despite his wartime leadership. This led to major reforms, including the founding of the NHS in 1948.
How did the manifesto affect Clement atlees success?
Labour’s manifesto, Let Us Face the Future, set out ambitious social and economic:
- reforms, which appealed to an electorate looking for change after World War II
- Creation of the Welfare State – Including the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS), free at the point of use.
- Nationalisation of key industries – Coal, railways, steel, electricity, and the Bank of England
- Expansion of social housing — To rebuild cities and provide affordable homes.
These policies contrasted with the Conservatives’ more cautious approach, which largely focused on returning to pre-war economic structures.
How did the election campaign affect Clement atlees success?
The Conservatives focused on Churchill’s leadership rather than offering a strong post-war vision.
Appealing to the working class and returning soldiers: Labour framed itself as the party of ordinary people, promising security and opportunity after the war.
What are some key facts about the 1997 election?
Turnout: 71.4%
Labour Party (Tony Blair)
Seats won: 418 - Vote share: 43.2%
Conservative Party (John Major)
Seats won: 165 - Vote share: 30.7%
How did the party policies, manifesto affect Blair’s Success?
Blair rebranded the Labour Party as “New Labour”, moving away from its traditional socialist roots to a more centrist, pro-business stance.
- Commitment to no rise in income tax.
- “Education, education, education” – A major focus on smaller class sizes, literacy and numeracy improvements, and more school funding.
- Tough on crime, with policies such as “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”
How did the election campaign affect Blair’s Success?
- Labour’s campaign was highly professional, led by Alastair Campbell and Peter Mandelson, ensuring tight media control and a positive public image for Blair.
- Blair distanced the party from Old Labour’s image of high taxes, union control, and economic mismanagement.
What are some key facts about the 2024 election?
Voter Turnout: 59.8%
Labour Party (Starmar) - seats: 411, 33.7% of vote share
Conservative Party (Sunak) - seats: 121, 23.7% of vote share
How did the manifesto affect Starmar’s success?
Labour’s manifesto, titled “Change”, presented a vision for a fairer and more prosperous Britain
> Pledged to reduce NHS waiting times by introducing 40,000 additional appointments weekly, funded by closing tax loopholes.
> Proposed the establishment of Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power company, to enhance energy security and reduce bills.
> Proposed lowering the voting age to 16 and reforming the House of Lords to enhance democratic representation.
How did the election campaign affect Starmar’s success?
The election campaign has clear messaging presenting them as a more centrist party bringing change
> The slogan “Change” encapsulated the party’s commitment to renewal and progress, appealing to a broad electorate.
> Pro-Business Stance: By positioning Labour as both pro-business and pro-worker, the campaign attracted support from various economic sectors: bringing Richard Walker (CEO of Iceland) to show support of business at a party speech.
What is some YouGov data surrounding the high education levels 2024 election?
YouGov Data:
High Education Level:
Labour: 42%
Conservative: 18%
Reform UK: 8%
2019 - 43% - labour, 29% - conservative
What is some YouGov data surrounding the low education levels 2024 election?
Low Education Level:
Labour: 28%
Conservative: 31%
Reform UK: 23%
2019 - 25% - labour, 58% - conservative.
What did the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) show the growing disparity in voter turnout between graduates and non-graduates?
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) highlights a growing disparity in voter turnout between graduates and non-graduates, which has more than doubled since 2019 - The turnout gap between graduates and non-graduates has widened to 11 percentage points.
The Conservative Party has experienced a decline in support among graduates and professional classes. By how much?
The Conservative Party has experienced a decline in support among graduates and professional classes. In the latest election, only 19% of graduates voted Conservative, while 43% supported Labour. This trend reflects changing social dynamics, where modern professionals no longer align with traditional Conservative values.
What is some YouGov data surrounding the class in the 2024 election?
ABC1:
Labour: 36%
Conservative: 25%
Reform UK: 11%
2019 - 33% - Labour, 43% - conservative
C2DE:
Labour: 33%
Conservative: 23%
Reform UK: 20%
2019 - 33% - labour, 48% - conservative
What does the rise of reform show about class voting behaviour ?
While Labour continues to receive substantial support from working-class voters, the rise of Reform UK suggests a fragmentation within this demographic, with some voters seeking alternatives to traditional parties.
What is the effect of partisanship on voting behaviour?
Despite traditional partisan loyalties, there was a notable increase in tactical voting, where individuals cast their ballots not solely for their preferred party but to prevent an undesired outcome. For instance, Labour supporters, including prominent figures like Steve Coogan, advocated voting for Liberal Democrat candidates in constituencies where Labour had minimal chances, aiming to unseat Conservative incumbents.
What is some YouGov data surrounding the age in the 2024 election?
YouGov
Younger Voters (18–24): Predominantly supported the Labour Party, with 41% of this age group casting their votes for Labour, while only 8% favored the Conservative Party. 2019 - 56% - labour, 21% conservative
Older Voters (65+): Showed a strong preference for the Conservatives, with 42% supporting them compared to 22% for Labour. 2019 - 57% - conservative, 22% - labour
Young Women (18–24): 45% voted for Labour, and only 5% for the Conservatives.
Young Men (18–24): 36% supported Labour, with 4% favoring the Conservatives.
What is some YouGov data surrounding gender in the 2024 election?
Female Voters: 35% supported Labour, while 26% voted Conservative. 2019 - 31% - labour, 46% - conservative
Male Voters: 34% backed Labour, with 23% choosing the Conservatives. 2019 - 35% - labour, 44% - conservative
Young Men (18–24): 9% voted for Reform UK.
What does the shift in young voting demographics show?
This trend reflects a broader shift observed in Western democracies, where young men are gravitating towards right-wing populist parties. Factors such as dissatisfaction with mainstream politics, economic challenges, and a search for community contribute to this phenomenon.
What is some YouGov data surrounding race in the 2024 election?
All Ethnic Minority Voters:
Labour: 46%
Conservative: 17%
Reform UK: 3%
White Voters:
Labour: 33%
Conservative: 26%
Reform UK: 16%
How did the region affect voting behaviour in 2024?
Urban constituencies, particularly in cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham, continued to show strong support for the Labour Party.
A Survation poll conducted in November 2024 across the 100 most rural constituencies revealed the following voting intentions:
Conservative Party: 34%
Labour Party: 21%
Liberal Democrats: 18%
Reform UK: 21%
What are the short-term factors affecting voting behaviour?
> The concept of the “Sea Wall” emerged, referring to 108 coastal constituencies characterized by economic deprivation and unique local issues. These areas became pivotal battlegrounds, with specific policies targetting tourism-dependent economies, cost-of-living challenges, and poor connectivity. Labour’s targeted efforts led to breakthroughs in regions like Cornwall, Dorset, and Kent, areas traditionally dominated by Conservatives.
> In November 2023, eight Labour MPs, including three British Muslims—Afzal Khan, Yasmin Qureshi, and Naz Shah—resigned from their frontbench positions in protest of the leadership’s position on Gaza. A Survation poll in February 2024 showed Labour’s support among Muslim voters had declined by 26 points to 80%.
Voters expressed frustration over increasing taxes coupled with declining public services. Many felt the country was “broken,” with economic policies failing to address their everyday challenges.
> There was a growing perception that large corporations were capitalizing on the cost-of-living crisis, exacerbating feelings of economic injustice.
Figures like Nigel Farage resonated with certain voter demographics, especially those feeling alienated by mainstream politics.
What is the effect of social media on voting behaviour?
> Nigel Farage’s active and unfiltered presence on social media platforms resonated with younger demographics, particularly disillusioned young men. His candid approach attracted individuals seeking authenticity, contributing to Reform UK’s surge in popularity.
Labour invested over £2.4 million in social media ads since the campaign’s commencement vs The Conservatives spent £906,916 on social media advertising during the same period.
The election period saw the emergence of deepfake videos on social media, such as fabricated clips depicting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak endorsing controversial policies - misinformation.
How did traditional media affect voting behaviour?
> In the 2024 election, media coverage of issues such as the government’s handling of the economy.Older demographics, who are less likely to rely on social media, often depend on TV news and printed media for election information, giving traditional outlets a direct influence on their voting behavior.
In February 2020, The Sun reported daily sales of approximately 1.38 million copies, marking an 8% decline over the previous year.
4 June 2024: This debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer attracted 5.37 million viewers, making it the most-watched program of that week.
“Question Time” holds an 87% fame rating and a 42% popularity rating among the UK public, reflecting its significant influence
How did media bias affect the 2024 election?
> Sun headlines such as “Starmer’s Labour is a threat to Britain” and accusations that he lacked leadership qualities were common, presenting a biased image of Starmer’s leadership.
Critics argue: The BBC’s occasional soft handling of controversies surrounding Conservative figures like Rishi Sunak was noted, with accusations of not pressing hard enough on issues like the cost-of-living crisis and their handling of public sector pay.
How did opinion polls affect the 2024 election?
> Polls showing a strong lead for Labour (or any party) can create a bandwagon effect, where voters may flock to the party they perceive as “winning,” even if they were initially undecided or inclined to vote for a different party.
Polls not always correct, “shy Tory” effect, where Conservative supporters may not fully disclose their intentions in polling, but may vote as expected on election day.
Fears over Labours large lead, causing people to not participate in voting as it appears labour’s win is pre-determined.
What are examples of opinion polls in June 2024?
June 2024:
Labour: 44%
Conservatives: 36%
Liberal Democrats: 8%
