The impact of age on voting behaviour

Question 1

What type of voting does the impact of age directly mirror?

Answer 1

Class voting

Question 2

Describe the economic changes that have caused age to become the most decisive factor in how people vote

Answer 2

As Britain has moved from an industrial to a more service based economy, there have been fewer jobs available in traditional class-based sectors. They have been replaced with white-collar, office jobs where age and seniority is much more important

Question 3

What has increased homeownership led to more demand for?

Answer 3

More middle-class protections

Question 4

Why have increased middle class protections proved detrimental for the young?

Answer 4

They have made it much harder for young people to buy a home of their own and become less reliant on the state

Question 5

Why have young people become less interested in the more traditional policies offered by the conservatives?

Answer 5

The rise of the gig economy and its focus on younger employees has allowed them to access work that is more flexible but less well-protected

Question 6

Substantiate the idea that young people tend to be more left-leaning

Answer 6

• They tend to be more progressive and less conservative
• Younger people have fewer ideas, and can therefore indulge in more outward looking ideas
• The young tend to adopt more progressive ideas based on the idea of greater change and reform
• A large proportion of the upswing in Labour party membership under Jeremy Corbyn was down to young people expressing their support

Question 7

Substantiate the idea that older people tend to vote more conservatively

Answer 7

• As young people age they acquire more assets, so there is a tendency to take a more rational, self-interested approach, rather than focusing on wider issues
• Having the responsibilty of a career, property and a family can cause people to take a more cautious approach

Question 8

How does age impact turnout?

Answer 8

Younger people are less likely to vote

Question 9

What is the consequence of older people voting in higher numbers than the young?

Answer 9

Parties tend to prioritise the concerns of older voters

Question 10

How can age be seen as a contributory factor to Ed Milibands failed attempt to become PM in 2015?

Answer 10

He promised to scrap tuitions fees and limit pension increases

Question 11

How have the conservatives recently used age to their advantage?

Answer 11

By promising a triple lock on pensions