1997 election voting behaviour

Class based voting

• 41% of AB voted conservative, 31% labour and 22% Liberal Democrat’s

• 37% of C1 voted both the conservative and labour parties

• 50% C2 and 59% of DE voted labour

Party based voting

New labour were able to reach out to middle and w.class as a result of significant blurring of party image - seen as more concerned with business than ever before. Labour in 1997 were seen as good for all people by 78% of people

Gender

45% of men and 44% of women voted labour

31% men and 32% women voted conservative

Labour closed the gender gap with men and women both equally as likely to support them

Region

• labour remained strong in Scotland, wales and the north - they made gains in London and the midlands

• Conservatives still strong in the south

Ethnicity

• 70% of non- white voted labour and only 18% voted conservative

• 82% of black voters voted labour, only 12% voted conservative

• Labour gained 43% of white voters which beat the conservatives

Age

• 18-24: 49% voted labour only 27% voted conservative

• 65+: 41% voted labour and only 36% voted conservative

Context

• - worst conservative result since 1832

• Failures of John majors gov

  • Economy: Black Wednesday

  • Sleaze

  • Small working majority

  • Party divisions on Europe

  • Major seen as a weak leader