A new analysis of how many graduates there are living in each Westmister Parliamentary constituency shows that five of the seven seats with the highest proportion of graduates amongst their working age population have Liberal Democrat MPs.
The figures, from the University and College Union, show that overall 29% of the working population have degrees with Susan Kramer’s Richmond Park constituency topping the list at 63.61%.
The top ten seats, in order, are:
| 1 | London | Richmond Park | 74,200 | 63.61% | Ms Susan Kramer | Lib Dem |
| 2 | South West | Bristol West | 83,700 | 62.49% | Mr Stephen Williams | Lib Dem |
| 3 | London | Kensington and Chelsea | 90,600 | 62.25% | The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind | Con |
| 4 | London | Hampstead and Highgate | 95,800 | 61.38% | Ms Glenda Jackson CBE | Lab |
| 5 | London | Hornsey and Wood Green | 77,800 | 59.77% | Ms Lynne Featherstone | Lib Dem |
| 6 | North West | Manchester, Withington | 65,000 | 59.54% | Mr John Leech | Lib Dem |
| 7 | Yorks/Humber | Sheffield, Hallam | 47,200 | 59.53% | Mr Nick Clegg | Lib Dem |
| 8 | London | Battersea | 67,400 | 58.61% | Mr Martin Linton | Lab |
| 9 | London | Tooting | 65,700 | 58.30% | The Rt Hon Sadiq Khan | Lab |
| 10 | London | Hammersmith and Fulham | 84,800 | 58.02% | Mr Greg Hands | Con |
The full set of data is available in the UCU press release (all of which is based on the current Parliamentary constituency boundaries rather than the new ones coming in to force at the next general election).
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4 Comments
…so the typical focus is just too highbrow…
Oh WOW! Even more prejudice seats taught in the hallowed halls of learning. The type who believe it is ok to assualt and attack waitresses and bar staff and rip off taxi drivers. I must brush up on the latest graduate insight of the poor, working class, ethnic minorities, sexual identity diversity etc to check I am doing it right. The last time I spoke to a learned graduate Lib Dem councillor they said the reason poor people are poor and have so many problems is because people of the working class are STUPID! Live long enough and work hard enough to provide for your life. One step down from the conservatives. You still believe you are above most. If not by wealth and status at least intellectually. You may not grind us but you do destroy us with your condescention. We need our self respect and self pride. Any chance? No. I didn’t think so. Between the battering of those ruling and the petting of liberals there is not much inbetween. Certainly no self respect. Can’t meantion the times you have been really hurtful. We are disposable and nothing. Thank you for your disertation I’ll give you a C-.
I don’t think this says anything about the attitude of the Liberal Democrats towards the working class, merely that recent graduates are more likely to vote Lib Dem. Since the party has hit big on issues which have resonated with students (tuition fees, homophobic bullying and the Iraq War to name a few) in recent years, this is not surprising.
I’m candidate in a ward with a big “town vs gown” split – there’s a lot of “working class” social housing, next to some of the biggest student halls of residence, and a lot of friction between the two populations. However, I’m spending just as much effort if not more in campaigning around the social housing.
The Lib Dem messages about raising the poorest people out of income tax, giving people more control over their own lives, and justice policies based on proven reduction in reoffending all resonate very well among my ward residents, and I don’t get the impression that anybody feels condescended by me as a University graduate…
5 out of 7 Constituencies with the highest resident professional voters have a L/D M.P.s but 8 out of the top 20 are also L/D Seats, that equals 40% and if replicated across the board L/D Government would be back at 1906-10 Seats gained in General Elections..
I have also seen that no 18 out of 638 with 52.65% NVQ 4 equivalent professional quals..is East Dunbartonshire that is a fraction ahead of even Twickenham.
This proves that where high numbers of professionals live in constituencies and have a winning L/D M.P. to support, they vote for them, whilst elsewhere L/D Votes would benefit disproportionately upwards with STV.