CLASS

Question 1

WHAT IS CLASS DEALIGNMENT?

Answer 1

PROCESS WHERE INDIVIDUALS NO LONGER IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS BELONGING TO A CERTAIN CLASS AND DO NOT VOTE FOR THE PARTY THEY MAY BE EXPECTED TO GIVEN THEIR BACKGROUND.

Question 2

WHICH CLASS HISTORICALLY VOTED FOR THE LABOUR PARTY?

Answer 2

WORKING CLASS (C2, D, E) AS THEY CHAMPIONED WORKERS’ RIGHTS AND TRADE UNIONS

Question 3

WHICH CLASS HISTORICALLY VOTED FOR THE CONSERVATIVES?

Answer 3

MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASSES (A,B,C1) AS THEY FAVOURED LOW TAXES, PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND TRADITIONAL VALUES

Question 4

WHAT IS CLASS VOTING?

Answer 4

VOTING IN LINE WITH THE POLITICAL PARTY THAT SUPPOSEDLY PROTECTS AND SERVES THE INTERESTS OF A PARTICULAR CLASS.

Question 5

WHY IS THE LINK BETWEEN CLASS AND VOTING LESS SIGNIFICANT NOW?

Answer 5

SOCIETY HAS BECOME MORE AFFLUENT AND WOKRING CLASS HAS ASPIRED TO A MIDDLE CLASS WAY OF LIFE - DIFFERENCES IN CLASS R LESS VISIBLE

Question 6

WHY R THERE NOW LESS DIFFERENCES IN CLASS?

Answer 6

1. DECLINES IN HEAVY INDUSTRIES E.G MINERS WHO HELD STRONG TRADE UNIONS WHILE THE SERVICE SECTOR WHICH WAS LESS UNIONISED EXPANDED- CLASS C2 NOW THINK OF THEMSELVES AS MIDDLE CLASS
2. MIXED CLASS HOUSEHOLDS

Question 7

HOW IS CLASS DEALIGNMENT SHOWN BY THE SHIFT IN VOTING BEHAVIOUR OF THE LOWER CLASS?

Answer 7

42% VOTED TORY OR REFORM IN 2024 DUE TO THEIR BRANDS OF EUROSEPTIC AND ANTI IMMIGRATION POPULISM APPEALS TO LEFT BEHIND GROUPS WHO BELIEVE IMMIGRANTS R TAKING THEIR JOBS.

Question 8

WHAT % OF ABC1 VOTERS CHOSE THE TORIES IN 2024 AND 1979?

Answer 8

2024 - 25%
1979 - 59%

Question 9

WHEN HAVE PARTIES IMPLEMENTED POLICIES BEYOND THEIR TRADITIONAL BASE?

Answer 9

THATCHER INTRODUCED HOUSING ACT 1980 - ALLOWED OWNERSHIP OF COUNCIL HOUSES - ATTEMPT TO GAIN C2 VOTES IN 1983 - “PROPERTY OWNING DEMOCRACY” ACCORDING TO STEVEN EVANS.
BLAIR’S MODERNISATION - NEW LABOUR E.G ABOLISHMENT OF CLAUSE IV AND NO INCREASE TO INCOME TAX - MORE APPEAL TO AB VOTERS.

Question 10

HOW CAN YOU ARGUE THAT THERE’S BEEN RE-ALIGNMENT RECENTLY?

Answer 10

LEFT AND RIGHT WING USED TO BE BASED ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS BUT IT IS NOW BASED ON LIBERAL VS CONSERVATIVE VIEWS - “ANYWHERES VS SOMEWHERES” ACCORDING TO MJ GOODWIN
AGE, RACE, REGION AND EDUCATION ARE NOW IMPORTANT THAN CLASS

Question 11

WHAT DOES THE ANYWHERES VS SOMEWHERES DIVIDE REPRESENT?

Answer 11

LEFT WING = PRO EU, PRO IMMIGRATION, POSITIVE VIEWS ON MULTICULTURALISM
RIGHT WING = EUROSCEPTISM, ANTI IMMIGRATION, NATIONAL IDENTITY

Question 12

WHAT IS A FAMOUS QUOTE ABOUT CLASS?

Answer 12

PJ PULZAR NOTED - “CLASS IS THE BASIS OF BRITISH PARTY POLITICS, ALL ELSE IS EMBELLISHMENT AND DETAIL”