2017 General Election

What position was May in when she announced a general election?

What position was May in when she announced a general election?

• Very far ahead in the polls

Why was the general election significant ?

• may didnt achieve the result she wanted/expected

• confirmed assumptions about voting behaviour in the UK.

• Class and Partisan Dealignment continued.

• Campaign was highly significant

• TV debates highly influential- party leadership significant.

What are key assumptions in the result?

• hostility towards Corbyn in press made no difference

• issues mattered more than perceived competence of the party leadership

• Young people not necessarily apathetic towards politics

• Conservative and Labour share of the vote was the biggest since 1970→ assumption in the end of multi-party politics.

Why was the Conservative Campaign so weak?

• Failed to exploit the weaknesses of Corbyn who should have been seen as “unelectable” by the electorate

• Failed to produce a conservative manifesto that inspired excitement- manifesto produced by key advisors (eg Fiona Hill)

• “Dementia Tax”- Stalled the Campaign

Why was the Labour Campaign so successful?

• Pledge to abolish tuition fees

• Increase spending on police

• Not increase taxes for the 95% of the population- Earning less than £80,000

• After 7 years of Corbyns anti-austerity measures this was well received.

• Promised to “balance the budget”

Why did the Conservatives campaign focusing on May as a powerful leader who could offer “strong and stable” leadership also backfire?

• Gave a series of emotionless speeches

• Media criticism “Maybot”

• May only went to invitation only rallies

• Didn’t attend televised leadership debate.

How did Labour more successfully present Corbyn as a strong and capable leader?

• Went directly to the people- appeared at music festivals

• Engaged with younger voters

• “For the many, not the few”

Why did May expect to be re-elected regardless?

She contrasted her government of competence with the “coalition of chaos” led by Jeremy Corbyn.

What was the core issue in the 2017 general election?

Brexit

Who did their stance on Brexit/immigration appeal to for both parties?

Conservatives- Majority swing among more economically vunerable DE voters who felt the conservatives would be more likely to impose stricter sanctions on immigration.

Labour- Pro European AB voters and younger voters favoured labour - more likely to negotiate for a “soft” Brexit.

What was a key voting trend in 2017 G.E?

Remainers- Labour

Leave EU- Conservative

What was he conservative vote share in North Warwickshire who decisively voted to leave the EU?

56.9% voted for conservatives in 2017 general election.

What is a “salient” issue?

A prominant/Important issue

What was the Salient issue in Scotland in 2017 general election?

SNP’s commitment to a second independence referendum.

What was the conservative vote share in Stirling and Moray who both decisively voted to stay with the UK in 2014 independence referendum?

• Stirling (60% voted remain) - 37.1% conservative- SNP lost seat

• Moray (57.6% voted remain)- 47.5% voted conservative- SNP lost seat.

Why was class dealignment especially significant during 2017 general election?

Labour increased vote share in AB voters due to pro-European stance.

What percentage of AB voters voted for labour in 2017 general election?

37% (in comparison to 28% in 2015)

What percentage of 18-24 year olds voted remain?

75%

What percentage of 18-24 year olds voted for labour in 2017?

62%

What were the positive swings of labour/conservative in 2017?

Labour +9.6%

Conservative +5.5%