Voting Behaviour and the Media Flashcards
Gender
In 2017 73% of women between 18-24 voted Labour but only 18% voted Conservative, so it could be said that young women are very likely to vote Labour
Age
In 2017, 18% of 18-24 year olds voted Conserviave, whereas 67% voted Labour
59% of over 65s voted Conservative and 23% voted Labour
The reason that older voters are likely to vote Conservative, is that they are less idealistic, and own property, whereas younger people are often more progressive, idealistic and have student debt
Ethnicity
In 2017, 65% of BME Voters supported Labour rather than the Conservatives, who got 21%
Region
The North favours Labour, though in the 2019 general election, the Conservatives broke the ‘red wall’
In the South East it appeared that the Conservatives have more support, except for London which favours Labour
Rational Choice Theory
Rational choice theory is when voters assess which parties will benefit them the most
Voters may also look at the VALENCE of parties (trust)
Media
Although Momentum dominated online, most people exist in an ‘echo-chamber’
In 1997 Blair had the support of the Sun which famously had the headline ‘The Sun Backs Blair’ and afterwards ‘ITS THE SUN WOT WON IT’
2017 Election
Conservatives and Labour won 82% of the votes, and the Conservatives won 317 seats, so had to negotiate a confidence and supply deal with the DUP
Dubbed the ‘Brexit Election’, May’s ‘dementia tax’ and repealing the ban on fox-hunting were unpopular
In 2017 there was a ‘youthquake’ as there was a significant youth turnout
2019 Election
Johnson won 365 setas and collapsed Corbyn’s ‘Red Wall’
Political Scientist John Curtice stated ‘Labour is no longer the party of the working class’
Sajid Javid declared the end of austerity allowing the Tories to pursue high spending and a had Brexit stance
The Labour Party has a milquetoast Brexit stance and wanted to plant 2 billion trees
Factors Affecting Voting Behaviour (x7)
Social Class
Gender
Ethnicity
Region
Rational Choice Theory
Media
Age
Class Dealignment
Previously ‘AB’ voters voted Conservative and ‘DE’ voters voted Labour
In 2015 45% of ABs voted Conservative and 41% of DEs voted Labour
Blair and Johnson all broke class divides through ‘one-nation conservativism’ and ‘New Labour’
1997 Election
Blair won a landslide majority of 179 and there was a turnout of 71%
Blair’s New Labour attracted middle class and female voters
Where Major was old and a had a divided and sleazy party, Blair was young, presidential and had the Sun’s support
1979 Election
Thatcher and Callaghan won 81% of the vote and there was a turnout of 76%
Class dealignment was shown as the Tories has an 11% swing among working class (C2s) and 9% among DEs
Voters used rational choice theory and INSTRUMENTAL VOTING reasoning that the Tories would manage the economy better than Labour who caused the Winter of Discontent and inflation of 13.39%
