Social factor essay

• Introduction

  • Point: Discusses the importance of social factors, like class, age, and ethnicity, in UK voting behavior.
  • Judgment: Essay will argue for or against the idea that social factors are the primary determinants in election outcomes.
  • Evaluation (AO3): The argument will ultimately consider whether these social factors hold more weight than economic or issue-based factors today.
• Paragraph 1 (For): Class Alignment

  • Point: Historically, social class has been a main factor, with working-class favoring Labour and middle-class supporting Conservatives.
  • Evidence: 1964 election – 64% working-class voted Labour, 62% middle-class voted Conservative.
  • AO2: Family and community reinforce “tribal voting,” creating party loyalty. Safe seats often align with class demographics.
  • AO3: However, growing class dealignment (e.g., Conservatives’ 2019 “Red Wall” win) weakens class as a stable predictor.
• Paragraph 1 (Against): Class Dealignment

  • Point: Class dealignment reflects increased volatility in voting patterns.
  • Evidence: 2019 election – 48% of Conservative voters from CDE (working class); many traditional Labour areas shifted to Conservative.
  • AO2: Economic shifts blur class lines, leading to cross-class voting and greater focus on issues over class.
  • AO3: Class dealignment suggests other factors, like economic concerns, now outweigh class identity.
• Paragraph 2 (For): Age

  • Point: Age is a decisive factor, with younger voters often supporting Labour and older voters leaning Conservative.
  • Evidence: 2016 EU Referendum – 73% of 18-24s voted Remain, 60% of 65+ voted Leave.
  • AO2: Age-based values impact choices; some argue there is an age-based “realignment” in voting.
  • AO3: Age divides influence voting, but future shifts in wealth and values could affect this pattern.
• Paragraph 2 (Against): Economic Importance

  • Point: Economic issues often override social factors in voter decisions.
  • Evidence: 1997 election – Labour gained support with a pro-business stance; Conservatives faced backlash on tax policies.
  • AO2: Economic stability impacts quality of life, making it a priority for voters across social categories.
  • AO3: Economic competence crosses age and class, showing the economy often influences outcomes more than age.
• Paragraph 3 (For): Ethnicity

  • Point: Ethnic minorities tend to support Labour due to pro-equality policies.
  • Evidence: 2017 election – Labour received 77% of ethnic minority votes, Conservatives 20%.
  • AO2: Labour’s policies resonate with BME communities, particularly in urban, working-class areas.
  • AO3: Ethnicity is impactful, but other factors like economy or key issues may sway minority votes.
• Paragraph 3 (Against): Issue Voting

  • Point: Issue-based voting often overrides social identity, leading to increased electoral volatility.
  • Evidence: 2019 election – Conservatives gained Labour “Red Wall” seats due to Brexit.
  • AO2: Voters prioritize issues that directly affect them, showing a shift from social identity to policy-based choices.
  • AO3: Issue voting highlights that many voters now choose based on policy over traditional social factors.
• Conclusion

  • Point: Social factors like class, age, and ethnicity still influence voting, but their impact may be declining.
  • Evidence: Recent elections show economic and issue-based voting, like the 2019 Brexit focus, gaining importance.
  • Judgment: Social factors are relevant but increasingly challenged by economic and issue-driven voting.