Is The UK More Politically Engaged Than Ever Before?
With record voter turnout driving more than 30 million votes in the recent UK election, we ask whether or not the British electorate is more engaged than ever before?
During the turgid reign of Labour’s Gordon Brown in the late noughties, the level of political engagement in the UK reached rock-bottom levels. While New Labour had swept into power in 1997 on a tidal wave of positive sentiment and emotion, their lack of clear direction and a shift away from left-wing socialism alienated voters while creating apathy and mistrust in equal measure.
This seemed to change by the 2015 election, as more than 30 million voters took to the polling booths to have their say. This was the single highest voter turnout since New Labour were elected into office 18 years previously, and it suggest that British politics has turned full circle since in this time. Given that this drive to vote also resulted in a clear and indisputable decision, the recent election sent a clear message concerning the influence and responsibility of the electorate in democratic nations.
Why the UK is more Engaged Politically then in previous generations
While high engagement levels and the presence of a landslide victory may draw strong parallels between the 1997 and 2015 elections, there is a compelling argument to be made that the UK electorate is more engaged with social issues than ever before. This argument is shaped by multiple factors, including the following: -
The Triumph of Policy over Emotion
While the 1997 election resulted in one of the biggest landslide victories of all time, the circumstances were unique in the extreme. The Tories had implemented a supposedly repressive reign for three terms, for example, presiding over recession, high unemployment and the controversial issue of privatization in the process. New Labour's liberal and open approach therefore captivated down-trodden voters, promising widespread reforms and offering a glimpse into a more prosperous UK.
While this was compelling, it was a campaign led by emotion and an overwhelming desire to change rather than insightful policies. This meant that rather than being engaged by key social issues and policies, the majority of the electorate simply became consumed by emotion and the need to make a telling political statement.
Although voters had become increasingly disillusioned with New Labour by the time Gordon Brown came to power, the level of emotion and anguish was considerably lower. This suggests that the peak turnout during the 2015 election was driven primarily by informed decision making and the value of specific, core policies.
The empowerment of Scotland as an Independent Political Force
The issue of Scottish independence dominated the build-up to the 2015 election, less than a year after a referendum and far-reaching debate concerning the future of parliament north of the border. The prospect of a new political infrastructure and renewed independence in Scotland has captured the imagination of the native electorate, creating a more engaged community of voters with a far greater stake in the future of their country.
This was reflected during both last years’ referendum and the recent election, as a record 84.6% of the electorate turned out to have their say during the former. The number of votes can north of the border also contributed to record engagement levels during the latter, with 71.1% of the electorate responding positively to the prospect of a separate and independent government.
The rise of Social Media and Politician Interaction
While Barack Obama was the first Presidential candidate to truly leverage social media during an election campaign, this diverse medium has since emerged to become a key battleground from candidates. From Snapchat diaries to impromptu, real-time political debates hosted on Twitter, social media is creating brand new channels through which politicians can discuss the issues.
In addition to this, it is also creating a live and emotive medium through which the electorate can interact directly with politicians. This is crucial to driving engagement, as it connects everyday citizens with pressing social issues and affords them a genuine voice. With this trend set to continue further, we should expect democratic elections to experience even greater levels of engagement in years to come.
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