CASE ELECTION STUDY - 2017

Question 1

Poltical context

Answer 1

• The election was not due until 220, but pm Theresa May called a snap election, hoping to win a mandate for her Brexit policies
• Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s poll ratings were very low

Question 2

Result

Answer 2

• A hung parliament
• A conserative minority govt dependent on a confidence and supply deal with the DUP
• The conservaties lost 13 seats, Labour gained 30

Question 3

Patterns of voting behaviour

Answer 3

• In 2017, 46% of social grade AB voted tories and 38% Labour, whereas 41& of social grade DE voted conservatie and 44% Labour
• Age was the key predictor of voting behaiour: younger more likely to vote Labour
• in 2017, women supported Labour and the conservaties equally, whereas 39% of men voted Labour and 45% conservatives
• In 2017, 73% of BAME voters supported Labour and 19% conservatives

Question 4

Influence of media

Answer 4

• Corbyn’s policies, personality and leadership style was widely criticised by the media
• Many newspapers, including the Sun, supported the tories
• Labour used social media to counter its negative publicity from traditional media and reach to younger people

Question 5

Impact of party policies

Answer 5

• The conservatives focus in Brexit was uninspiring
• Labour wanted to spend more on public services
• May’s plans to reduce spending on pensions gave the impression that the tories were abandoning their most loyal supporters: the elderly

Question 6

Influence of Manifestos

Answer 6

• The conservatives manifestio seemed ill-considered and senior Conseratives complained they had not been consulted
• May’s attempt to improve inter-generational fairness by making people pay for home care if they had assests at more than £100,000 was labelled the ‘dementia tax’
• Labour’s promise to abolish uni tuition fees appealed to younger voters

Question 7

Impact of elections on policy and policy making

Answer 7

• May lost her majority but won the most seats, so formed a govt with the help of the DUP
• May’s leadership was fundamentally weakened
• Tories were unable to deliver many manifesto commitments

Question 8

Impact of campaigns and leadership

Answer 8

• May began the campaign with a huge lead over Corbyn in the poll, but was far less popular than him by election day
• May’s refusal to particiapte in televised debates and her aloot personal style were partly responsible
• The conservative campaign was based on May’s abilities as a leader, promising strong stable govt