social class

Question 1

what are the different catagories of social class in order

Answer 1

AB, C1, C2, DE

Question 2

in 1966 what % of voters from AB, C1 and DE, C2 voted labour/Tory

Answer 2

1966 =
62% of AB, C1 = Conservative
64% of C2, DE = Labour

Question 3

give 3 reasons why social class used to be most important

Answer 3

• how someone voted depended on their class identity —> upper/middle = Tory, working = labour
• both major parties had strong deep issues within communities so there was a culture of voting
• Labour traditionally made policies for the working class whereas Conservatives traditionally developed policies for the middle class so it was rational to choose whichever party associated with your class

Question 4

give 3 reasons why class is no longer a large factor

Answer 4

• class dealignment = voters no longer identify themselves in terms of class
• there has been a drive towards center ground in politics —> new labour under blair and the Tory’s under cameron
• other factors have more importance

Question 5

relationship between education and class at 2019 election

Answer 5

• in 2019 43% of people with a degree or higher level of education voted labour whereas only 29% voted tory
• but 58% of people with education level of GCSE or below voted tory and 25% voted labour
• surprising result as historically those with a higher level of education were likely to be upper class and voted Tory but now that isn’t the case