Voting Behaviour

Question 1

Factors

Answer 1

• Age
• Gender
• Social Class
• Short Term Factors

Question 2

Age

Answer 2

• Labour = progression / change
• Conservatives = conserving
• Young = Labour
• Old = Tory
• Tipping point = 34yo
• Younger -> less likely to vote -> impact on election results
• 2017 G.E
  - 84% of 70+yos voted
  - 57% of 18-19yos

Question 3

Gender

Answer 3

• Women = strong attachment to Tories
• W/out fem vote - Labour would have won every election until 1979
• Women = 1/3 more likely to worry ab finances
• women = care more ab Labour issues

Question 4

Social Class

Answer 4

• Gov social grade classification
• Tories:
  - Low taxes
  - Reduced welfare support
  - Favour businesses
• Labour:
  - Redistribute wealth
  - Welfare provisions
  - Public services
• Class de-alignment = change in employment patterns / attitudes
• Case study – North of England
• ‘open’ & ‘closed’ mindsets
• Influence of local culture
• 2019 G.E results
  - Tory = 48% from C2DE, 43% from ABC1
  - Labour = 33% from ABC1 & C2DE

Question 5

Short Term Factors

Answer 5

• Definitions / examples:
• Media
• Party leadership & image
• Issue voting
• Regional voting
• Floating voters
• Brexit / immigration
• Choose who is believed to have the best policies
• Issues change every election cycle
• Economic factors = common
• 2005 election - Iraq war = most important issue
• 2015 G.E:
• 39% = Tory better
• 30% = Labour better