Participation crisis?

• Turnout in general election low in recent years - 2001 it was 59.4%

  2024 - 59.7%
• Turnout for referendums low too - 42.4% AV

  Turnout for elected mayor London referendum - 34.4%
• 2019 turnout 67.3%, voting was very high in crucial referendums e.g EU-72.2% Scottish independence - 84.6%
• Decrease in party membership - Conservative 2.8 million in 1950 but 172,000 in 2022, highlights mistrust - expenses scandal, floating voters
• Increase support in 2015 for smaller parties e.g UKIP, SNP which offered dramatic change, GREEN 50000 2016

  in 2018 Labour increased in membership because of Corbyn youth quake
• Clicktivism


  Low effort, low level of participation - doesn't make any changes
• Not many e-petitions are successful
• Lots of people don't really know politics so don't vote
• Social media is a tool to express opinions


  1. petitions like Marcus Rashford free school meals, Brexit referendum had 4 million signatures
• Voter turnout even lower for second order (regional/local) elections

  Police Crime and Comissions election 2012 15%
• Voter turnout for second order elections increased

  2021 - 33%
• Expenses scandal 2009

  MP including Luton’s used taxes to treat dry rot in second home in southampton