Social class is still the determinant of voting behaviour
‘Social class is still the main determinant of voting behaviour.’ Discuss.
In some ways, this statement is correct, however, as society is evolving this is becoming less and less apparent. The change in voting behaviour based on classes started to change between 1945 and the 1980s, where the class de-alignment occurred. This was the decline in the relationship between social class and voting. After World War II, the distinctions between the classes became less important as the country had fought a war together, and everyone struggled because of it, no matter of their class.
The period from the 1960s to the 1970s also showed changes in society. The distinctions between the classes eroded due to an increase in prosperity. Many more people were entering into higher education, and there was a significant rise in female workers. In the 1980s a ‘new working-class’ emerged; the private sector grew dramatically, most people were entering work with better qualifications, and the number of home owners increased. All of these things contributed to the class de-alignment, as distinguishing between the social classes became harder, and therefore more of a challenge for parties to target one specific class. This can be seen from the 1983 general election, where the Conservatives gained the support of the working class, whereas previously Conservatives were mainly popular with the middle classes. This led to the victory of the Conservatives with Margaret Thatcher becoming Prime Minister with a majority of 144 seats.
The most apparent change in the class de-alignment was in the 1997 general election. Tony Blair brought in the ‘new labour’, intended to be a ‘catch all’ party which aimed to please everyone, regardless of ethnicity, gender, region and class. Tony Blair strived to unite the country and in his victory speech he said he aimed to achieve ‘a Britain that is one nation, with shared values and purpose’. This made his party extremely popular and Tony Blair won the
In some ways, this statement is correct, however, as society is evolving this is becoming less and less apparent. The change in voting behaviour based on classes started to change between 1945 and the 1980s, where the class de-alignment occurred. This was the decline in the relationship between social class and voting. After World War II, the distinctions between the classes became less important as the country had fought a war together, and everyone struggled because of it, no matter of their class.
The period from the 1960s to the 1970s also showed changes in society. The distinctions between the classes eroded due to an increase in prosperity. Many more people were entering into higher education, and there was a significant rise in female workers. In the 1980s a ‘new working-class’ emerged; the private sector grew dramatically, most people were entering work with better qualifications, and the number of home owners increased. All of these things contributed to the class de-alignment, as distinguishing between the social classes became harder, and therefore more of a challenge for parties to target one specific class. This can be seen from the 1983 general election, where the Conservatives gained the support of the working class, whereas previously Conservatives were mainly popular with the middle classes. This led to the victory of the Conservatives with Margaret Thatcher becoming Prime Minister with a majority of 144 seats.
The most apparent change in the class de-alignment was in the 1997 general election. Tony Blair brought in the ‘new labour’, intended to be a ‘catch all’ party which aimed to please everyone, regardless of ethnicity, gender, region and class. Tony Blair strived to unite the country and in his victory speech he said he aimed to achieve ‘a Britain that is one nation, with shared values and purpose’. This made his party extremely popular and Tony Blair won the