Wider Franchise

• Public trust in MPs


  Important to the participation crisis as they are how the electorate engage with politics and the key aspect of the UK's participatory democracy
• When MPs are viewed as corrupt and ridiculed


  It damages the credibility of Westminster and leads to voter apathy
• Instances of MPs' misconduct


  • Owen Paterson resigned after being suspended for "an egregious case of paid advocacy" in 2021
  • Jack Pincher as Deputy Chief Whip for sexually assaulting two men whilst drunk in 2022
• Instances of MPs' misconduct


  Contribute to the 8.8% decrease in voting in comparison with 1964-77
• Voter turnout dramatically decreased to 59.4% in 2001 when Blair govt seemed certain of re-election and having a strong government competency
• Turnout at devolved elections is no higher than Westminster and Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) is significantly lower at 46.5%
• There is an increase in participation in police and crime commissioners elected in 2021, on average, a turnout of just 33.2% although that was considerably higher than 15.1% turnout in 2012 when they were introduced
• Instances of high voter turnout


  • The Scottish independence referendum had 84.6% turnout
  • A 7.6% increase in turnout at the Brexit referendum in 2016 compared to 1975
  • 6.1 million signing the Revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU petition
  • 100,000 who joined protest in Glasgow during COP26 in 2021
• More engagement in less traditional forms of participation such as e-petitions


  Less membership of political parties, dropping from 1,005,000 in 1953 to 430,000 in 2021
• Partisan dealignment


  Can lead to tactical voting but is more likely to lead to voting apathy