Voting behaviour and the media

Question 1

Class dealignment

Answer 1

The process where individuals no longer identify themselves as belonging to a certain class and for political purposes fail to make a class connection with their voting pattern.

Question 2

Partisan dealignment

Answer 2

The process where individuals no longer identify themselves on a long-term basis by being associated with a certain political party

Question 3

Governing competency

Answer 3

The perceived ability of the governing party I office to manage the affairs of the state well and effectively. It can also be a potential view of opposition parties and their perceived governing competence if they were to secure office

Question 4

Disillusion and apathy

Answer 4

A process of disengagement with politics and politic al activity. Having no confidence in politics and politicians as being able to solve issues and make a difference. Manifested in low turnout at elections and poor awareness of contemporary events.

Question 5

Manifesto

Answer 5

A political party will spell out in detail what actions and programmes it would like to put in place if it is successful in the next election

Question 6

Mandate

Answer 6

The successful party following an election claims it has the authority to implement its manifesto promises and also a general permission to govern as new issues arise.

Question 7

Class being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments for

Answer 7

• Issues over levels of taxation and welfare payments, closely linked to class still distinguish the main parties
• A number of voters still identify with a party based on their social class
• Regional voting tends to reflect class-based issues such as wealth and poverty
  Social mobility (or lack of it) remain major concerns for voters

Question 8

Class being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments against

Answer 8

• Major issues, such as Brexit and immigration, cross class lines
• The size and importance of the working class has declined, making it less of an electoral force
• Increasing levels of home ownership and better educational opportunities make it harder to determine class affiliation
  To be successful, modern parties must appeal to a variety of social classes, not just one or two of them

Question 9

Gender being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments for

Answer 9

• Little evidence of any specific tactic to reach out to male voters
• 2017 Labour pledge to conduct a gender-impact assessment on all policies and legislation
• Cameron and Blair’s promises to increase number of female MPs and use of all women shortlists
• However given the size of the population even a few percentage points could make a big difference
• Clear shift in female voting pattern since 1970s compared with male.
• Since 1997, more likely to vote Labour, previously more likely to vote Cons.
• May be due to changing role of women in society - Cons seen as party of housewives in 70s-80s.
• Labour was focused on heavy industry which was heavily male dominated, until collapse of industrial base which forced them to consider a wider range of issues.
• Women more likely to favour health and education, men more likely to favour foreign intervention, nuclear weapons and power.
  Relate to gendered roles in society that may have caused to vote gap

Question 10

Gender being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments against

Answer 10

• Not at all clear that there is a ‘women’s vote’ - women (like men) tend to vote based on issue not gender.
• Gender gap in party voting is usually quite small, men and women voting in similar percentages for all parties.
• Simply looking at gender hides other vast social differences, i.e. Age.
• Gender vote gaps became much less stark as they grow older.
  Perhaps too large of a social grouping to make an effective and comprehensive explanation.

Question 11

Education being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments for

Answer 11

• In the past there has being a small number of people sitting A Levels and going to University making the impact of education difficult to quantify. Those with academic qualifications were more likely to vote Conservative. Those in heavy industry and working class professions were less likely to vote Conservative
• It does have a liberalizing effect with voters more likely to vote Labour or Lib Dem. In 2017 47% of people who held a degree were likely to vote Labour or Lib Dem, 36% Conservative, 4% UKIP.
• From those with no formal qualification 23% voted Labour or Lib Dem, 53%
  Conservative, 17% UKIP.
• Those with GCSE’s was 31% who would vote left wing and 62% right wing.
• Those with A Levels saw 39% left and 49% right wing
  Education shift has changed the way that the parties support has been distributed

Question 12

Education being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments against

Answer 12

• Growth of University courses and access to courses in 2017 - 50% of school leavers went to higher education. .
  Conservatives is the single most popular party across all educational groups

Question 13

Age being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments for

Answer 13

• People become more likely to vote conservative than labour at around 45.
• Britain moved from industrial economy to service-based so more focus on office-based jobs where position, which comes with age, counts for more than in traditional factory and mining jobs.
• Property ownership has risen, harder for young people to buy a home and become less reliant on the state.
• Big economy, more flexible but less well protected jobs, targets young people and means they care less about Conservative’s traditional policy.
• Younger more progressive
• As people get older, get more assets, more self-interested.
• Younger, fewer responsibilities, indulge in more outward-looking ideas.
• Young adopt progressive ideas based on greater levels of reform and change.
  Younger are less likely to vote. Parties prioritise older voters.

Question 14

Age being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments against

Answer 14

1979, Labour tended to have slightly more support among younger people however the difference was very small. In youngest age group - 18-24, no difference.

Question 15

Ethnicity being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments for

Answer 15

• Conservative rhetoric of opposing immigration (Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech) and equal rights while Labour passed major anti-discrimination legislation when in power.
• Actions of parties including UKIP, Brexit and Conservative seen as discriminatory - Conservatives in Windrush Scandal 2019.
• BAME voters favour Labour.
• Immigrants tended to be employed in industrial roles in cities, becoming natural allies of Labour so Labour adopted policies to protect its supporters.
• Concentration of BAME voters in cities.
• Proportion of BAME people in classes C2 and DE is greater than proportion of white people in those classes. On basis of class voting BAME people are more likely to be left wing.
  BAME voters less likely to vote.

Question 16

Ethnicity being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments against

Answer 16

• No automatic reason why any party should be favoured by people of a given ethnicity. Race should not play a major role in politics in an equal society.
• All parties support racially tolerant and mixed society.
• Members of all ethnic groups have the same rights in the UK and all official parties claim to oppose discrimination against BAME people.
• British Future think tank says some ethnic bias against Conservatives is waning.
  People tend not to vote on basis of ethnicity. Considering BAME voters as a single group suggests they are different to white voters.

Question 17

Region being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments for

Answer 17

• Labour has deep roots in North of England and Wales so will do well there.
• Conservatives have dominated in rural and suburban areas so therefore in the South.

Question 18

Region being the most important factor for voting behaviour arguments against

Answer 18

• Wealth is not evenly distributed so regional trends may be class trends.
• More declining areas in north of England, Scotland and Wales.
• Single issues can override social ones e.g. Brexit

Question 19

What is the relationship between age and turnout and has this relationship been consistently seen in all elections since 2001?

Answer 19

The older someone is the higher turnout for their bracket. This has consistently remained the case however, the turnout of younger voters has increased over time.

Question 20

What are the main reasons for the decline in turnout among younger voters?

Answer 20

• Widespread disillusion
• Finding alternative ways to participate
• Be more interested in single issues than in broad political ideologies
  They feel the need to abstain as they do not feel any party is worth their support.

Question 21

What do you think could be done to encourage more young people to consistently vote?

Answer 21

• Wider variety of political parties - less centrist
• Realization that other participation is not as important
• Online voting
• Education for schools and colleges before turning 18

Question 22

What is the relationship between class and turnout?

Answer 22

Typically the higher the class, the higher the turnout, however the gap has slightly narrowed between the upper and lower classes

Question 23

What are the main reasons why C2 and DE voters might not vote?

Answer 23

They may not have a home and therefore not registered, they do not feel the outcome will make any difference, don’t understand the issues.

Question 24

Is there a long-term trend in turnout figures?

Answer 24

• There was a dip in the turnout in 2001, with a 59.4% turnout. Since then turnouts have been a growing concern
• Low numbers turning up at the polling station is suggests a disillusionment with politics
• Turnout was high 79% in 74 resulting in a hung parliament.
  Turnout in close elections is particularly high in marginal seats, thus supporting the conclusion that close elections produce high turnouts.

Question 25

Valence issue ad examples

Answer 25

Voters make their decision based on the party or candidate that they think is most likely to run the country effectively, especially in relation to the economy. Many believe this is the most important issue. Leadership is a key valence issue – Miliband was punished in 2015 for being seen as weak, and Corbyn was a highly divisive leader and damaged by accusations of anti-Semitism.

Question 26

Rational choice

Answer 26

When voters scrutinise the manifesto and policies of a party, and decide which party will govern most effectively for them as individuals. This reduces the voting decision to one based on logic, rather than emotion.

Question 27

Issue voting and examples

Answer 27

Suggests that voters will vote on one issue that means a lot to them. This is particularly the case in the USA, for example over abortion rights. However it has a role to play in British elections as well. Brexit is an obvious example, but the environment, terrorism and the government’s response and military action (e.g. the 1983 election after the Falklands War) are also issues that have dominated elections.

Question 28

Party image of Labour during 1983 election

Answer 28

Previously Callaghan in government - Seriously struggling with Trade Unions – Workers striking for pay rises in a high inflation and high cost of living circumstances – The Winter of discontent right at the end of Callaghan’s time in power
Previously Callaghan in government - Struggling with a stagnant economy and high unemployment (final central government of the ‘Post war consensus era’)
In 1979 Labour suffered a 50-seat loss.
Michael Foot (Leader at the time) – shifted Labour to the left, disunited the party with the ‘SDP’ being formed and joiningthe Liberal party, further damaging the party and voters’ confidence to choose the Labour party
Voters were uneasy with many left-wing policies and a particular distrust with their ability to handle the economy

Question 29

Party image of Conservatives during 1983 election

Answer 29

Margaret Thatcher was a very powerful figure who shifted the Conservatives to the right, uniting a struggling tory party with authority.
In Thatcher’s early years before this election, she presided over a shift from centralised, state-controlled institutions to privatisation and economicreform. Whilst lowering taxes for the wealthy and for Businesses – seeing unprecedented corporate growth whilst cultivating good relationships with prominent Business leaders.
But her policies divided the country as the service sector and home ownership boomed, but manufacturing declined, and unemployment rose by over 1.5 million people from 1979 to 1983.Leaving many working class stranded and worser off.
Unemployment hit hardest in Northern Ireland, where one in five people were out of work in the early 1980s, along with the industrial areas of northern England and Scotland.
However, despite this, Inflation levels plummeted from 22% when she started in government, down to 5% in 1983. A staggeringlyimpressiveturnaround in the economy – a very strong figure to encourage voters to choose the conservatives in 1983
Another notable moment for Thatcher was the resounding success in the Falkland War against the Dictatorial Leader in Argentina in 1982 – seen as a major victory for democracy which was fresh on Voter’s minds.

Question 30

Policies/manifesto of Conservatives during 1983 election

Answer 30

Trade Unions:
Executes the idea that trade unions abuse their power but allows them to…
hold ballots for the election of governing bodies of trade unions;
decide periodically whether their unions should have party political funds.
Economic policy:
Bring inflation down
Firm control of government spending and reducing taxes to families and businesses
Removing barriers to jobs:
Minimising legal restrictions which create barriers to new jobs,encourage moves towards greater flexibility in working practices, such as Part-Time Job Release, which makes it financially possible for people nearing retirement age to go part-time; and the Job-Splitting Scheme which helps employers to split a whole-time job into two part-time jobs;
Nationalised industries:
Privatising industries e.g. BT selling 51% of it’s shares, British Airways and British steel etc, to make them more competitive

Question 31

Policies/manifesto of Labour during 1983 election

Answer 31

Labour’s manifesto was called the ‘longest suicide note in history’ this is due to Labour suggesting such drastic changes to society, which required such a large amount of funding e.g…
Withdrawal from the EEC- they deemed the EEC to be a ‘capitalist club’, which the UK wasn’t getting as much return in comparison to theirinvestment. In addition, they thought that the leadership of the EEC was undemocratically elected . This was unrelated to what citizens would want , due to the winter of discontent previously
Improving pollution and the environment- ban on lead in petrol and improving the inner cities. This was also not what citizens needed at the time, due to external factors such as high unemployment and inflation
Increase investment in many areas e.g. in transport, energy and housing
Ensuring the pound is competitive through action on VAT, rent , rates and fares
Prepare a five-year national plan- with unions and employers and create a new National Investment Bank and new industrial powers
Reformation of the House of Lords
Thus, Labour focused on politics with citizens were not interested in at the time, due to external factors such as inflation, high unemployment and trade union disruptions.

Question 32

Election campaign/techniques of Labour during 1983 election

Answer 32

A week in their campaign began to falter : Denis Healey, Labour’s deputy leader, voiced his opinion on BBC’sNewsnightthat Britain’s nuclear deterrent would only be disposed of if the USSR made “adequate concessions”.

This led Joan Ruddock, chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), to contend that this did not amount to a non-nuclear policy.

Tried to promote a tory ‘secret manifesto’ – trying to uncover them lying about ecconomic issues

Question 33

Election campaign/techniques of
Conservatives during 1983 election

Answer 33

Thatcher remained on top throughout the whole of the election campaigning

Relied heavily on manifesto and character

Question 34

Third party influence of the 1983 election

Answer 34

The Liberal/SDP alliance was the third biggest party.
They won 23 seats and 25.4% of the vote.
The newly formed SDPrealised they were targeting the same voters as the Liberals. They decided not to putcandidates against each other in the hopes of winning more seats between them,forming the alliance.
This ultimatelyfailed for them as they won fewer than 30 seats between them.
However, the SDP alliance came second in many constituencies and hadmany shared votes across the country.
They were criticised by Labour leader Foot for splitting the centre-left vote and allowing the Conservatives to win more seats.

Question 35

Party leaders of Labour during 1997 election

Answer 35

Cool Britannia was a period of time in the 1990s that featured an increased pride in the culture of the UK – something Tony Blair effectively tapped into
Following the momentum of the 1996 Euro tournament held in England, Blair said in a speech that “Seventeen years of hurt never stopped us dreaming. Labour’s coming home.”
Blair himself was seen as young, charismatic, energetic and even cool - in accordance with the emerging zeitgeist for modernisation
He was also a very articulate communicator, with a great many soundbites – ‘New Labour, New Britain’
His personal passion for New Labour and promise of a fiscally responsible Labour characterised the rebranding of the party

Question 36

Party leaders of Conservatives during 1997 election

Answer 36

Spitting Image - political satire show - credited with developing John Major’s persona as the “grey man”.
This imagery was a gift to Labour, in their aim to present themselves as modern and dynamic
At one Prime Minister’s Questions, leader of the opposition Tony Blair said “I lead my party; he follows his” – Major lacked control and famously was recorded describing members of his cabinet as “bastards”
The Tories ran a ‘Back to Basics’ campaign, intended as a nostalgic appeal to traditional values such as “neighbourliness, decency, courtesy” and was interpreted as promoting socially conservative values
This was followed by a large list of scandals within the Conservative party - including John Major’s own four year affair with MP Edwina Currie

Question 37

Party image of Labour during 1997 election

Answer 37

They distanced themselves from the Labour of 1983 within their manifesto:
○ The removal of clause IV
○ ‘Social’-ist not socialist
○ Promise of no rise in taxes
○ Promise to stick to Tory spending plans
They adopted the idea of “cool Britannia’ in attempts to modernise Labour’s image and a focus on a new party

Question 38

Party image of Conservatives during 1997 election

Answer 38

Major’s 1993 ‘back-to-basics’ speech preaching ‘nostalgic’ and ‘traditional’ values of decency and courtesy was ridiculed by countless Tory scandals under Major’s 7 year premiership
Cash for questions scandal that came to light in 1994 (2 MPs resigned due to this)
In 1996, it was found that the Conservative-controlled Westminster City Council removed homeless people from the borough and replaced them with likely Conservative voters
Affairs - 17 MPs had affairs/sex scandals that gained a lot of media attention, two people died due to these
Thatcherites resentment towards Major - Major kept Thatcherite loyalists in his cabinet meant that both his party and cabinet were not unified
Divisions over Europe – Major had to please Europhiles such as Ken Clark, as well as Eurosceptics like Michael Portillo and Michael Howard

Question 39

Policies/manifesto of Conservatives during 1997 election

Answer 39

Free market was introduced and a large part of Thatcherism

Continued focus on low taxation and a low tax economy was one of their main manifesto pledges

Resting on the laurels of homeownership that increased during Thatcher’s time. They continue to refer to their previous success throughout the manifesto

Backing up their idea that Conservative success with the economy is why they should be elected

Backing up their idea that Conservative success with the economy is why they should be elected

Question 40

Policies/manifesto of Labour during 1997 election

Answer 40

Tony Blair was convinced that one of the key reasons for Labour losing the 1992 general election was what the conservatives called “Labour’s tax bombshell” – the allegation that they would increase the basic rate of tax.
This led to pledges from Labour not to raise the basic or higher rate of income tax and to keep to the Conservative’s spending plans.
Labour’s new policies tackled their typical image of being soft on crime and in favour of higher taxes
By balancing eye-catching but not expensive policies, they succeeded in reinvigorating their image but keeping their progressive, socialist voters with radical policies like constitutional reform, referendums on devolution and changes in voting system.

Question 41

Election campaign/techniques of Conservative during 1997 election

Answer 41

The Conservatives had few new policies which did not catch the public’s attention as they focused on previous themes and rested on their past laurels.
Conservatives’ campaign had fundamental flaws as they tried to push British people into getting back to “the basics” regarding traditional family values. However, in a time where the Conservatives ministers and MPs were having scandals, this discredited them even more.

Question 41

Election campaign/techniques of Labour during 1997 election

Answer 41

Their campaign song was ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ with slogans like ‘Britain deserves better’ and ‘New Labour: New Britain’ which emphasised both Conservative failures and the new direction of Labour.
A key feature of Labour’s campaign was spin doctors and the wider role of the media.
Alastair Campbell was instrumental in Labour’s campaign and he tried to influence journalists and editors to ensure the key issues of the day were addressed by Labour.
He also played a big part in Tony Blair’s slick presentation

Question 42

Third party influence of the 1997 election

Answer 42

Paddy Ashdown, the leader of the Lib Dems, made it clear that he would support Labour in the event of a hung Parliament. Labour and Liberal Democrats also made a deal to work together on the issue of constitutional reform, marking a step away from their equidistance between the Tories and Labour
Originally, Lib Dem support was low, but Labour’s move towards the right opened up the market for the Liberal Democrats

Question 43

Party leaders of Conservatives during 2019

Answer 43

Boris Johnson- leader of the Conservatives in 2019. Boris Johnson was leader of the Conservative party and led them to an 80-seat majority. He was a leaver, and was clear about ‘getting Brexit done’, which potentially influenced his win. He was also former mayor of London and had developed a persona as a ‘bloke to have a laugh with’ or an ‘average guy’. He was often referred to as ‘Bojo’ or just by his first name and had the image of being the nations friend rather than leader.

Question 43

Party leaders of Conservatives during 2019

Answer 43

Boris Johnson- leader of the Conservatives in 2019. Boris Johnson was leader of the Conservative party and led them to an 80-seat majority. He was a leaver, and was clear about ‘getting Brexit done’, which potentially influenced his win. He was also former mayor of London and had developed a persona as a ‘bloke to have a laugh with’ or an ‘average guy’. He was often referred to as ‘Bojo’ or just by his first name and had the image of being the nations friend rather than leader.

Question 44

Party leaders of Labour during 2019

Answer 44

Jeremy Corbyn was leader of the Labour party at the time, and he was a somewhat controversial figure. He was accused of antisemitism for his views around the Israel / Palestine conflict and was also quite far left within the Labour party. This made him less favourable compared to the funny and silly Boris Johnson.

Question 45

Party image of Labour during 2019

Answer 45

Labour had been marred by anti-Semitism alligations, with 2 formal investigations earlier in 2019 & 350 members resigning/expelled
Suggestions that the party faced 130 cases of antisemitism (which Labour insisted was false)
The chief rabbi at the time said that Jews were anxious about the prospect of Corbyn becoming PM

Question 46

Party image of Labour during 2019

Answer 46

Labour had been marred by anti-Semitism alligations, with 2 formal investigations earlier in 2019 & 350 members resigning/expelled
Suggestions that the party faced 130 cases of antisemitism (which Labour insisted was false)
The chief rabbi at the time said that Jews were anxious about the prospect of Corbyn becoming PM

Question 47

Party image of Conservatives during 2019

Answer 47

Cons party divided over May’s Brexit deal as she tried, and failed, to appease the hard Brexiteers
Pre-2019, Cons MPs forced to agree to support Johnson’s Brexit deal
Party is wanting to ‘get Brexit done’, but very focused around Johnson’s persona

Question 48

Policies/Manifesto of Conservatives in 2019 election

Answer 48

‘get Brexit done’ was repeated over and over againat a time whenthe public felt a lack of resolution over the UK leaving the EU as well as pledges for more police officers and nurses
Steered clear of any controversial policies following Theresa May’s unpopular policy on social care nicknamed ‘death tax’

Question 49

Policies/Manifesto of Labour in 2019 election

Answer 49

Had a multiplicity of huge policy offers based on many different aspects such as mass nationalisation, free broadband and compensating women born in the 1950s for the rise in pension age
They wanted to create a Brexit deal within 3 months and then put it to the public within 6 months – this went against what the public voted for in the 2016 referendum.

Question 49

Election campaigns/techniques in 2019 election

Answer 49

Much more subdued than previous elections, with Johnson not appearing in the media as it was understood that he could do more damage than good
Both Labour & Cons embraced social media, with Cons posting on average 21 times/day
Research suggests that the ‘get Brexit done’ slogan helped swing voters in marginal constituencies who wanted the EU withdrawal agreement ratified
Simplicity of the Cons campaign (Brexit) vs Labour’s multiplicity of policies, from nationalisation to free broadband, without much clarity of funding
Labour’s Brexit position was only revealed a few weeks before the election, giving them little time to explain the position
Labour adopted an advent calendar style policy reveal scheme, but there was a lack of communication from central organisation to activists
Suggestions that Labour would be ‘soft on crime’

Question 50

Third party influence on 2019 election

Answer 50

Liberal Democrats-
In 2019, a key part of the Lib Dem’s manifesto was to revoke Article 50 and put a complete stop to Brexit. Brexit was a huge issue in 2019 and influenced voters a lot, so this was potentially viewed as undemocratic leading to a lack of voters for Lib Dems. This was shown in the 11 seats they won in this election.
As Lib Dem’s are a central party so when people feel disillusioned with them they are likely to swing to one of the big parties, and in this case it seemed to be the Conservatives. Therefore, the Liberal Democrats were likely a factor playing in the Conservatives 80 seat majority.

Question 51

What are the factors affecting individual voting

Answer 51

Manifestos, Leadership, Tactical voting

Question 52

Influence of broadcast media on elections

Answer 52

• TV debates have a role to play in elections and policy
  
  • Neil Kinnock shouting ‘we’re alright’ and was broadcast as a premature victory and celebration. Poor tv image has impact
  • Ed Miliband falling off the stage did not help his polling
  • Clegg in 2010 debate resulted in hung parliament
  • Mays refusal to participate meant she was attacked
  • Corbyn’s high debates improved polls
  • Corbyn’s inability to understand childcare funding did not help
  • Airtime neutrality kicks in near election time
  • Is influential in establishing the areas of public discourse that is able to be discussed. Overton window
  • After 2010 leaders debate they lost seats and improved by 1% in votes
  • Miliband gave a very strong performance and claimed he was very tough
  • Economic voting has more influence than the TV over who they believed could control the economy
    Labour’s manifesto in 2017 moved the Overton window with no use of TV

Question 53

Influence of social media on elections

Answer 53

• It is too early to determine that it swings policy and changes elections
  
  • Web Cameron
  • Russel Brands YouTube channel was supposed to change young voters
  • Labour’s viral videos at little cost was spread
  • Daddy why do you hate me campaign film watched by 5.4 million in 2 days
  • Hashtags for Corbyn
  • UKIP reached out to elderly people on FB
  • Tory targeted with a anti Corbyn FB adverted
  • More important than canvasing due to practicality and weather in winter
  • No party would ignore it and e.g guardian has more views online that physical newspaper
    Other organizations just use social media

Question 54

Influence of print media on elections

Answer 54

• In 1979 The Sun headline at height of winter of discontent suggested that Callaghan swung opinion against the formally popular PM
  
  • Blair courted Murdoch
  • 74% of Daily Mail readers voted Tory in 2017
  • Traditional print media and its influence is overstated as the neutrality of the BBC has offset it
  • Opinion Polls showed Thatcher was not ahead in 97 and the Sun had big impact
  • Labour’s valence issues - trust in the government
  • 2017 press barrage against Corbyn and 15 page anti-labour spread day before polling day had little affect due to large vote share of Labour
  • No longer as widely read and not as influential
    Does it shape or just follow the views of their readers

Question 55

Influence of opinion polls media on elections

Answer 55

• In 92 Labour op polls suggested Labour would win
  
  • 2015 suggested a Labour and SNP coalition
  • May ditched plans on dementia based on the polls
  • They are often made from small samples of voters
  • Don’t always pick up the youth quake
    Opinion polls are not always accurate and have been wrong