crisis in participation

• Turnout in general elections and by elections are decreasing

  • in comparison to the 1979 general election with 76% to 2019 - 67.3%
  • by-elections in 2024 , Blackpool south was 32.5%
  • large portion of the electorate is not voting meaning it can undermine the legitimacy and mandate
• turnouts in referendums show voters vote when it matters

  • Scottish referendum - 82% turnout
• group membership in trade unions are in decline

  • trade unions declined to 6.25 million 2022
  • decline in power since thatcher came in
  • workers are left with a much weaker voice to represent their concerns
  • a decline for collective interests
• group membership counter - pressure groups

  modern forms of participation through pressure groups have increased in popularity

  • national trust - 2022 - 5.7 million
  • they protect minority rights
  • enhance democracy by allowing a new form of political representation
• party membership is on the decline

  • 1983 - 3.8% of the uk population was in a political party, reflecting strong level of participation
  • party activists reflected a reasonable proportion of society
  • now 1% are in a party, labour £3 membership led to rapid decline in membership , 1.5 million conservative membership to 150,000
  • voters are disillusioned
• party membership counter

  • political representation is increasing
  • 10 parties in parliament
  • greater range of manifestos to choose from
  • £3 membership made it easier to join parties , able to vote for the leader of the party
  • Reform party gained massive popularity over social media - general election opinion polls saying 11% to Reform - taking seats from conservative on salient issues like brexit