It’s been a long established pattern of British politics that the higher you go up the social scale, the higher turnout is in elections. The 2010 general election is no exception but looking through the numbers one class dimension comes out. Overall turnout collapsed after 1997 and has since had a modest recovery, but the pattern of that recovery across the classes is far from even.
Amongst DEs, turnout in 2010 was 57%, still 9 points down on the 66% turnout in 1997. It was a similar picture amongst C2s (58%, still 11 points down) and C1s (66%, still 9 points down). However, amongst ABs, turnout in 2010 was 76%, just 3 points down on 1997.
This variation in turnout recovery does not go very far to explain Labour’s election defeat as in fact the Conservatives out-polled Labour amongst both C1s and C2s but it does offer an additional insight into the mixed picture of good news and bad news from turnout in recent British elections.
Figures based on MORI’s turnout data for 2010 and MORI’s estimated turnout data for 1997. Many thanks to MORI for answering my query about the data so promptly.
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One Comment
Despite the best efforts of the far left, the only party that seems to mobilise the DE class, at least the white section of it, is the BNP. Labour of course continue to get the largest share of this vote, the other parties rarely make much impression.
It would appear the Lib Dems can win this vote via community politics in places like Newcastle and Bristol. It was hoped at the last general election that the DE class would like our tax policies, but in all of the canvassing I did not one person asked me about taxes, or commented on our tax policies.
Immigration came up a lot, and immigrants are often cast as a scapegoat for other problems many working class people feel; finding a job, getting accommodation, making ends meet.
There is a danger, after the regressive nature of the last budget, that the trend that only the people who benefit from the political system will vote in it will continue.
I wonder what will happen if an unemployed person loses 10% of their housing benefit after claiming benefits for over a year. Maybe they will be evicted? Maybe some of them will resort to petty crime to cover the loss? I doubt many will actually use their vote to change the policy.
If that is the case, politicians can pass policies like this and appear to get away with it.