Dr Ruth FoxMatt KorrisHansard Society

Chloe Smith MPCabinet Office

Natascha Engel MPChair, Backbench Business Committee

Peter OborneDaily Telegraph

2

A one-year ‘blip’?

Audit of Political Engagement 10

2

3

3

Propensity to vote

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Audit 1 (2004)

Mean propensity to vote

(out of 10)

Audit 10 (2013)

Just 41% say they would be ‘certain to vote’ in an immediate general election

20% are certain not to vote

4

Voting and young people

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Audit 9 (2012)

Audit 10 (2013)

30%22%

Audit 8 (2011)

12%

Certain to voteDo I look

bovvered?Voting?whatevs

5

Knowledge & Complexity

Audit of Political Engagement 10

It’s all too confusing. I

don’t understand it – I ignore it.

55% find politics complicated and hard for a person like me to understand

42% feel they know at least ‘a fair amount’ about politics

Knowledge & Complexity

The minimum age for voting is 16

71%Government & Parliament are the same thing 29%Members of the House of Lords are elected by the British public

67% 33%60% 40%Correct Wrong/DK

29% 33% 40%

45%55%You are automatically registered to vote if you pay council tax

7

Knowledge & Complexity Correct Wrong/DK

29% 33% 40%

48%45% 57%

British Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by British voters

Political parties receive some state funding 52% 48%43% 57%

8

Parliament and MPs

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Fewer people than ever know the name of their MP

Audit 8 (2011)

Audit 10 (2013)

38%

Audit 1-7 (2004-10)

22%

44%

9

Parliament and MPs

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Satisfied

6

No viewMPs in general

34%

My MP

48%

13 4 3

Satisfaction decreasedAmbivalence increased

23% 40%

since Audit 7 (2010)

Satisfied No view

10

Parliament and MPs

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Satisfied with Parliament

47%

55%

27%Parliament ‘holds government to account’

Parliament ‘debates and makes decisions about issues that matter to me’

9

6

since Audit 8 (2011)

since Audit 9 (2012)

Select committees + Urgent Questions + backbench business

= topical issues

Dr Ruth FoxMatt KorrisHansard Society

Chloe Smith MPCabinet Office

Natascha Engel MP Chair, Backbench Business Committee

Peter OborneDaily Telegraph

12

Knowledge & Complexity

Audit of Political Engagement 10

wish they had learned more about politics at school

50% How government works

How laws are made and implemented

How Parliament works

How best to have my say about politics

45%

34%

27%

47%

Desired knowledge:

13

Getting involved…or not

Audit of Political Engagement 10

27%

Have done in last year

Vote in an election

Would do if you felt strongly enough

Donate to charity/campaign

Create/sign e-petition

Create/sign paper petition

Contact local councillor/MP

20% 17% 9% 8% 8%

42%

25%35%41%

14

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Getting involved…or not

Vote in election

Donate to charity

Sign e-petition Sign paper petition

Contact politician

Done at least one…

50%

78%Contact media

Boycott product

Take part in consultation

Discuss online

Active campaignrole

Demonstrate or picket

Donate to party

Attend political meeting

Would do at least one…

15

Local and national decision-making

Audit of Political Engagement 10

47%

42%

Want to be involved in local decision-making

Want to be involved in national decision-making

9

9

since Audit 9 (2012)

16

Local and national decision-making

A person like me could do a good job as a local councillor

A person like me could do a good job as a local MP

27% 22%

17

Potential participants

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Similar attitudes

18

Politics vs. Current Affairs

Audit of Political Engagement 10

42%

71%

Interested in politics

Interested in news and current affairs

92% of people who are interested in politics are interested in current affairs 47% of people who are interested in news and current affairs are ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ interested in politics

Anti- party

politics?

33%of the public

19

Politics vs. Current Affairs

Audit of Political Engagement 10

33%of the public

36%31%18%39%37%34%

ABC1C2DE

X

20

Reforming British politics

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Conclusions

20

Audit of Political Engagement 10

Worrying trends on voting – especially among young people

Increasing ambivalence about MPs, but more positive about Parliament

A greater desire for involvement in decision-making, but through what methods if not voting?

Dr Ruth FoxMatt KorrisHansard Society

Chloe Smith MPCabinet Office

Natascha Engel MP Chair, Backbench Business Committee

Peter OborneDaily Telegraph