Evidence of a participation crisis

• Falling electoral turnout

  1945 until 1992 had turnouts mostly over 75% with 84% in 1950 but began to rapidly decline in the late 1990s

  1997 turnout was 71%

  2001 saw the lowest ever turnout of just 59%
• Falling party membership

  1983 : ~38% of the population were members of a political party and this fell to under 1% since the 1980s

  Labour's £3 membership saw a rise in membership showing a willingness to join but people wouldn't do much

  People are disillusioned with the main parties as they usually have similar policies and don't represent the people
• End of corporatism (actively bringing in groups to help the government)

  Thatcher favoured individualism and free market policies

  Less trade unions - weakened workers voices