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Studying British Politics in Kansas City
Welcome to the research blog featuring Kansas City students' research into UK politics.
Will UKIP Learn from it’s Past?
With European Parliament elections fast approaching and a Brexit solution still nowhere in sight I’m left wondering what kind of showing UKIP will put forth in this election. In the last EU parliament election, they did quite well by any standard. According to the BBC’s 2014 election coverage UKIP got 4,376,635 votes and gained eleven… Continue reading Will UKIP Learn from it’s Past?
Age and Political Negativity: Are Younger People More Likely to Distrust Politicians?
More and more young people have become involved in the politics of their country. As the most impatient generation, as well as increasingly more politically active, young voters have balked at old systems set in place years before they were born. In the United States for example, they are living in an increasingly polarized society—a… Continue reading Age and Political Negativity: Are Younger People More Likely to Distrust Politicians?
Is the SNP losing your interest?
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is losing interest in voters at quite an alarming rate. The once popular SNP gained momentum in the 2016 Parliamentary Election. The rise in popularity during this time stemmed from the consideration of holding a second independence referendum when the United Kingdom (UK) decided to leave the European Union (EU).… Continue reading Is the SNP losing your interest?
What the Scottish Independence Referendum meant for 2015 General Election
The Scottish referendum was a huge moment in the history of Scotland with a close vote to keep them within the UK. In 2014 the UK held a referendum in Scotland on whether Scotland would become an independent country outside of the UK. The vote results were 45% on yes to becoming an independent nation… Continue reading What the Scottish Independence Referendum meant for 2015 General Election
Election Broadcasts Have a Disappointing Effect on Votes
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 Parties Face a Big Challenge Since the General Election of 1924, Election broadcasts have altered the way British political parties communicate with their voters. Television and radio broadcasts were the primary promotional tool of the roaring twenties and early fifties, reaching a large margin of viewers. But political communication has now… Continue reading Election Broadcasts Have a Disappointing Effect on Votes
Does political affiliation in the UK affect favorability of single-party versus coalition governments?
The growth of small parties in the United Kingdom has threatened the possibility of a single-party winning the majority vote. Due to political fragmentation and tension between parties rising in the U.K., in the 2010 election, there was not a single-party that held a majority - thus a coalition government had to be formed between… Continue reading Does political affiliation in the UK affect favorability of single-party versus coalition governments?
Satisfaction With Voting Registration Systems in Scotland
It has become clear from observations of voting behavior and other forms of political participation that there are age differences in turning out to vote and even just registering to vote. There are many factors that may contribute to this difference in voting behavior by age groups such as younger people moving around more, older… Continue reading Satisfaction With Voting Registration Systems in Scotland
It’s Not Us, It’s You
18 Year-Old Eleanor Hayden at a Jason Kander for US Senate rally in 2016. Kansas City, Missouri - More often than not politicians are quick to try to appeal to the ‘young’ voters, those Millennials and Gen Z's. More often than not, the politicians end up coming across as significantly more cringe-worthy than election-worthy.… Continue reading It’s Not Us, It’s You
The Youth Electorate
One demographic group, the young population of millennials, will have a massive impact on the UK Elections in the future. In the 2017 Election the term “Youthquake” became almost a rallying cry for the Labour party in England (Rudgard, Kirk). The rally led almost “250,000 voters to register who were between the ages 18-24, it… Continue reading The Youth Electorate
Voter Intentions Compared to Party Identification In the 2015 Election
Voter Intentions Compared to Party Identification In the 2015 Election It is reasonable to assume that voters will vote for the party that they identify with, but obviously that is not always the case. When looking at vote results in 2015, the Scottish National Party came away with a massive win, and the Conservatives… Continue reading Voter Intentions Compared to Party Identification In the 2015 Election
