Elections and Electoral systems - UK

What role does the media play in elections, specifically regarding debates?

The media significantly influences public perception and allows candidates to showcase their policies during televised debates.

How did conservatives perform in TV debates during the 2024 election?

Conservatives performed better in TV debates compared to other parties.

What was notable about the National Service policy proposed for young people?

The National Service policy lacked cost estimates and clarity on implementation across the party.

What is the 'triple lock' pension policy?

The triple lock pension policy ensures that pensions increase by the highest of inflation, average wage growth, or a fixed percentage.

What was Labour's key achievement mentioned in the context of the 2024 election?

Labour aimed to increase NHS staffing by 40,000 new workers.

What challenge did the Liberal Democrats face in the debates?

Only the two main parties were included in the debates, making it difficult for the Lib Dems to gain visibility.

What controversy surrounded Diane Abbott during the 2024 election campaign?

There were difficulties in dealing with Diane Abbott's selection issues amidst various campaign challenges.

What qualities characterized Ed Davey's campaign?

Ed Davey maintained media relevance with various public appearances and kept a clean reputation during the election period.

What was a significant issue regarding the polling of smaller parties like those led by Nigel Farage?

Despite attempts to appeal to younger audiences, polling for smaller parties such as Farage's did not improve significantly.

What incidents highlighted the negative aspects of campaigning, particularly related to Nigel Farage?

Nigel Farage experienced a milkshake thrown at him and faced issues regarding misogyny and racism within his party.

Which age group had the highest percentage voting for Labour according to the notes?

The 30-39 age group with 46%.

What percentage of voters aged 70+ voted for Labour?

20%.

How did Labour perform among high social grade voters compared to Conservatives?

Labour dominated with 36% to Conservatives' 25%.

What was notable about homeowners no longer paying a mortgage in terms of voting?

37% of them voted Conservative.

Which demographic showed the strongest support for Labour as per ethnicity/religion?

43% of Asian voters backed Labour.

What percentage of men and women backed Labour according to the notes?

34% of men and 35% of women.

Which party received 12% of male vote share?

Lib Dems.

What was the percentage of men versus women voting for Reform?

17% of men voted for Reform compared to 12% of women.

What was the voting trend for Labour among different age groups?

Younger voters are more inclined to vote Labour, with numbers decreasing in older age groups.

What income group predominantly voted for Labour?

Income groups below £50,000 voted for Labour.

What is a majority government?

A government consisting of members of one political party which has an absolute majority of seats.

What is a coalition government?

A government consisting of two or more political parties, usually with an absolute majority of seats in parliament, formed after an agreement on policy and ministerial posts.

What characterizes a minority government?

A government consisting of members of one political party which does not have an absolute majority of seats.

What was significant about the 1983 general election?

The Conservatives won a landslide victory gaining 37 seats despite a 1.5% fall in their share of the vote, helped by a split in the anti-Conservative vote.

What is FPTP?

First-Past-The-Post, an electoral system used for general elections in the UK.

What is a hung parliament?

A situation in which no party has an absolute majority of seats.

How did FPTP contribute to the 2010 general election outcome?

It resulted in a hung parliament with the Conservatives being the largest party but falling short of a majority.

What is a tactical vote?

Voting for the candidate most likely to defeat the voter's least favored candidate.

What was the result of the 1997 general election?

Labour achieved a record tally of 418 MPs and a parliamentary majority of 179, heavily benefiting from tactical voting.

What are the disadvantages of the FPTP system?

Disproportional outcomes, votes of unequal value, and potential lack of effective choice for voters.

What is a wasted vote?

A vote for a losing candidate or a vote for a winning candidate that was surplus to the plurality required for victory.

How did the 2019 general election reinforce the case for FPTP?

It resulted in a single-party government and allowed the winning party to deliver its manifesto commitments.

What is adversarial politics?

A situation often found in two-party systems where the governing party is confronted by an opposition party that is hostile towards it.

What are electoral deserts?

Areas where a party has little or no representation due to the way FPTP operates.

What is the principle of 'one person, one vote, one value'?

The idea that each vote should carry equal weight, which FPTP does not achieve due to disparities in constituency size.

What was the main reason Margaret Thatcher called the general election on 9 June 1983?

She believed her party would win following the successful military operation to liberate the Falkland Islands.

What act did the 1981 Representation of the People’s Act aim to prevent?

It aimed to prevent the nomination of felons for elections.

What are the two broad themes that inspired Margaret Thatcher's government policies?

Neoliberalism and neoconservatism.

What policy did Margaret Thatcher implement to combat inflation?

Monetarism, which involved limiting the growth in the money supply.

What event in April 1982 significantly boosted support for Thatcher's government?

The Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands.

What were the key criticisms of the Labour Party's actions between 1974 and 1979?

They abandoned the Party's election manifesto promises and embraced monetarist policies.

What was the 'Alternative Economic Strategy' proposed by Labour?

A plan focused on expanding public ownership and opposing monetarist economic policies.

What major political development occurred for the Labour Party in 1981?

The formation of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by the 'Gang of Three'.

What was the notable result of the 1983 general election regarding the Liberal-SDP Alliance?

Despite polling 25.4% of the vote, the Alliance secured only 23 seats.

What did Labour's 1983 manifesto pledge regarding the EEC?

It pledged to leave the EEC within the lifetime of the next Parliament.

What was a major factor contributing to poor morale in the Labour Party prior to the 1983 election?

Disillusionment with Michael Foot's performance as leader.

What style of campaigning did the Liberal-SDP Alliance utilize in the 1983 election?

They focused on the extremism of both major parties and aimed to project a sense of national unity.

What was the significance of the 1983 general election results for Margaret Thatcher?

It solidified her second Conservative administration.

What was described as 'the longest suicide note in history'?

Labour's manifesto titled 'The New Hope for Britain'.

What electoral change did the SDP advocate in their Limehouse Declaration?

The principle of one member, one vote for electing leaders.

Which constituency did Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams win in the 1983 election?

West Belfast.

What were some major points to note from the 1997 General Election results?

High electoral volatility, exaggerated Labour's win, varied support across constituencies, narrowed North-South divide, credible opinion polls, and low turnout.

How did the level of electoral volatility in the 1997 General Election compare to previous elections?

The level of electoral volatility was very high, with almost 30% of 1992 Conservatives switching parties.

What was the Pedersen index score for voter volatility in the 1997 election?

The Pedersen index score for the 1997 election was 12.5, marking the second highest score since 1945.

How did the electoral system exaggerate Labour's victory in 1997?

Labour's seat ratio was 72:28 based on a vote split of 59:41, exaggerating their majority in the House of Commons.

What factors contributed to the exaggerated Labour lead in seats during the 1997 election?

Larger Conservative electorates with higher turnouts and tactical voting contributed to the exaggerated Labour lead.

What was the common misconception about voter turnout in the 1997 election?

It's often believed that low turnout solely caused the Conservative defeat, but lower turnout was more pronounced in Labour areas.

What were the opinion polls' predictions leading up to the 1997 election?

The polls predicted a large Labour lead over the Conservatives, regaining credibility after their failure in 1992.

How did the 1997 election results impact the Scottish Conservatives?

The Scottish Conservatives were wiped out, reducing their representation from 11 MPs to 0.

What were two main issues likely to dominate Scottish politics post-1997 election?

The regrouping of the Scottish Conservatives and the establishment of a devolved Scottish Parliament.

How did the North-South divide change from the 1992 to the 1997 elections?

The divide narrowed, with the Conservatives being 29.4% behind Labour in the North but ahead by 1.9% in the South in 1997.

Why was the performance of the economy not a decisive factor in the 1997 election results?

Despite a stronger economy, other factors like party popularity, scandals, and general voter fatigue impacted the election outcomes.

What was notable about the voter turnout in the 1997 General Election?

Turnout fell to a post-war low of 71.6%, the largest recorded decline from the previous election.

What is 'partisan dealignment' and why does it matter?

Partisan dealignment refers to the weakening of party identification, which affects the stability of voting behavior and leaves parties with less reliable core support.

What did a survey of Labour members conducted in 1989-90 reveal about their values?

61% of Labour members believed the party should adhere to its principles even if it meant losing elections.

What is the 'Alford Index' and what does it measure?

The Alford Index measures the difference in voting percentages for Labour among manual and non-manual workers, indicating the strength of class voting.

How has class voting changed from the 1960s to the 1980s and 1990s?

Class voting has diminished, with a significant drop in those voting for their 'natural' class party from about two-thirds to about half of the electorate.

What economic changes contributed to class dealignment?

People have become more affluent (embourgeoisement), leading to reduced solidarity among manual workers and changing voting behaviors.

What are two new cleavages in voting behavior according to Patrick Dunleavy?

The two new cleavages are based on the sector of employment (public vs. private sector) and sector of consumption (public services vs. private services).

What did the 1997 British General Election results indicate about party support among demographics?

The election showed a notable shift of traditional Tory voters to Labour, with home-owners and younger voters increasingly supporting Labour.

How did age influence voting behavior in the 1997 election?

Older voters were more likely to support the Conservatives, whereas younger voters (18-29) leaned heavily towards Labour, indicating a generational shift in party loyalty.

What factors have influenced the decline of the gender gap in voting?

The gender gap disappeared in the 1980s but reemerged in 1992, with women showing different preferences from men, varying with age group.

What has caused the weakening of partisanship in Britain?

Increased political awareness and education among voters leading to a decline in emotionally-based party attachments and stronger partisan identification.

What is the West Lothian Question?

A key part of devolution and the arguments surrounding further devolution to England.

What does EVEL stand for?

English Votes for English Laws.

What electoral system is criticized for having wasted votes?

The first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system.

What is one major flaw of the FPTP system?

It results in wasted votes for candidates that do not win.

What is a 'safe seat' in electoral terms?

A constituency that consistently elects a candidate from the same party.

How did the 2019 election results illustrate the unrepresentative nature of the FPTP system?

The Liberal Democrats won 11.5% of the national vote but only 11 seats, and the SNP won 48 seats with only 3.9% of the UK vote.

What does the 'winner's bonus' in FPTP mean?

The most popular party receives more seats than is proportional to their actual vote count.

Which parties face discrimination under the FPTP system?

Parties with widespread support but not concentrated in geographic areas, such as the Greens and Liberal Democrats.

What is a characteristic of minority constituencies?

An MP wins the most votes without securing more than 50% of the total vote.

What issue does the FPTP system create regarding meaningful choice for voters?

It leads to a two-party system where only two parties realistically compete for power.

In Scottish electoral politics, which parties traditionally compete?

The SNP and Labour, with recent competition against the Conservatives.

What recent electoral conflict in Northern Ireland is characterized by a two-party system?

The contest between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

What is representation as a function of elections?

It refers to how well elected officials reflect the preferences and demographics of their constituents.

What is legitimacy as a function of elections?

Legitimacy in elections refers to the recognition and acceptance of the authority of elected officials by the electorate, ensuring that the electoral process is viewed as fair and just.

Give three arguments in favour of FPTP

First Past the Post (FPTP) is simple, quick to count, and creates strong stable governments.

Give three arguments against FPTP

First Past the Post (FPTP) can lead to wasted votes, underrepresentation of smaller parties, and may encourage tactical voting.

How does AMS work and which assembly uses it?

The Additional Member System (AMS) combines proportional representation with first-past-the-post, allowing voters two votes: one for a candidate and another for a party. It is used by the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd.

What was the turnout for the 1998 good friday referendum?

81%

What was the turnout for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum?

85%

What was the result of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum

55% voted against independence.

What was the turnout for the 2016 Brexit referendum?

72%

What was the turnout for the AV referendum in 2011?

42.2%

Give three arguments in favour of referendums

Referendums increase public engagement in politics, provide direct democracy, and can settle contentious issues pragmatically.

Give three arguments against referendums.

Referendums can oversimplify complex issues, potentially lead to polarized opinions, and may result in voter apathy if turnout is low.