Voting Bloc and Behavior of United Kingdom

Voting Bloc and Behaviour

Voting Bloc

Once practising politicians (and sometimes political scientists) detect a tendency in a group to
identify with a certain party, they call it a voting bloc. The concept of voting blocs is
oversimplification, however, for there is no such thing as a solid bloc.

A voting bloc refers to a group of individuals who share similar political interests, concerns,
or ideologies and tend to vote in a coordinated manner based on these commonalities.

Voting blocs can significantly influence election outcomes by consolidating their votes to
support a particular candidate or political party. Candidates often target these blocs by
tailoring their campaigns and policy proposals to resonate with the concerns and priorities of
the group. Understanding the preferences and behaviours of various voting blocs is crucial for
political strategists and candidates in order to secure electoral support.

Types of Voting Blocs

Voting blocs can be classified in various ways, based on different criteria such as
demographics, political ideologies, or specific issues. There are a few types of voting bloc:

1. Class Voting
2. Regional Voting
3. Religious Blocs
4. Age Groups
5. Gender Gap
6. Racial Minorities
7. Urban Voting

Class Voting

Social class is one determinant of party identification and voting behaviour. Classifying
society into distinct classes can be complex and depends on various factors, such as income,
occupation, education, and social status. In the UK, a common classification historically
included three main classes: working class, middle class, and upper class.

In the UK, the working class typically includes individuals who are employed in manual
labour, skilled trades, and occupations that involve routine tasks or physical work. This
category can encompass a range of jobs, such as factory workers, construction labourers,
service industry employees (like retail or hospitality workers), and individuals in blue-collar
roles. Additionally, the working class might also include individuals in lower-paid service
sector jobs, such as clerical and administrative roles, as well as those in entry-level positions
that do not require advanced education or specialised training.
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The middle class typically includes individuals with professional, managerial, and white-
collar jobs, often requiring higher levels of education and specialised skills. This group is
characterised by greater economic stability and more control over their work conditions
compared to the working class.Jobs commonly associated with the middle class in the UK
include professions like teachers, nurses, office managers, engineers, IT professionals, and
those in creative fields. Middle-class individuals often earn salaries rather than hourly wages
and tend to have a broader range of opportunities for career advancement and personal
development.

The upper class typically refers to individuals who hold positions of high social, economic,
and often inherited privilege. This class is characterised by significant wealth, prestigious
family backgrounds, and access to exclusive opportunities. Members of the upper class often
have access to the highest levels of education, cultural institutions, and networks that can
further enhance their social standing. Occupations within the upper class can vary widely, but
they often include individuals in professions like business executives, high-ranking
politicians, prominent lawyers, influential media figures, and owners of large estates.

Voting patterns can vary widely among different classes and demographics in the UK, and
they can change over time. Historically, the working class has often supported the Labour
Party, while the middle and upper classes have leaned towards the Conservative Party.

The working class often votes for the Labour Party in the UK because historically, the party
has positioned itself as a champion of workers' rights, social welfare, and equality. Its policies
on issues like healthcare, education, and labor protection tend to align with the interests of
working-class individuals. However, it's important to note that political preferences can be
influenced by a range of factors, including economic circumstances, social values, and
regional dynamics.

The middle and upper classes often vote for the Conservative Party in the UK because the
party traditionally emphasizes policies that support free-market capitalism, lower taxes, and a
business-friendly environment. These policies are often seen as benefiting those with higher
incomes or financial interests. Additionally, the Conservative Party tends to prioritize fiscal
responsibility and limited government intervention, which can resonate with individuals who
value economic stability and individual autonomy. Similar to the working class and the
Labour Party, political preferences among the middle and upper classes are influenced by a
variety of factors, including economic views, social values, and regional considerations.

Regional voting

The United Kingdom is composed of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern
Ireland. It doesn't have officially recognized administrative regions like some other countries.
Instead, it has various administrative divisions such as counties, boroughs, and council areas
that are used for local governance and administrative purposes. The number of these divisions
can change due to administrative changes over time.Voting patterns in the UK can vary, but
broadly speaking:
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 The Conservative Party tends to have stronger support in the South of England and
rural areas.
 The Labour Party typically gains more support in urban areas, especially in the North
of England and Wales.
 The Scottish National Party (SNP) dominates in Scotland.
 The Liberal Democrats often have pockets of support in specific constituencies across
the country.

Voting patterns in the UK can be complex and can change over time due to a variety of
factors, including political issues, demographics, and economic conditions. However, here is
a general overview of the parties and regions they tend to have stronger support in:
Conservative Party: Strong support in the South of England, especially in rural and suburban
areas. Historically strong in the Home Counties, which surround London. Also has support in
some urban areas, particularly in the South. Labour Party: Strong support in urban areas,
especially in the North of England, the Midlands, and Wales. Historically had a strong base in
industrial towns and cities. Scottish National Party (SNP):Dominates in Scotland, advocating
for Scottish independence. Liberal Democrats: Historically had stronger support in certain
constituencies and regions, often in more affluent and university-centered areas. Democratic
Unionist Party (DUP):Strong support among unionists in Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin: Strong
support among Irish nationalists and republicans in Northern Ireland. Plaid Cymru: Strong
support in Wales, advocating for Welsh independence and promoting Welsh culture.

Religious voting

The United Kingdom is a diverse and multicultural country with a wide range of religious
beliefs and practices. People in the UK follow various religions, including Christianity (in its
different denominations), Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism, and others.
Additionally, there are individuals who identify as non-religious or atheist.

Britain’s Christian communities have long tended to support one of the major parties over the
other, largely as a result of historical ties and the tendency for families to pass their political
allegiances down from one generation to the next. Anglicans and Presbyterians, as members
of the national churches of England and Scotland, have tended to support the Conservatives
as the party that represented “the establishment” (of which those churches are a part). This is
so much the case that the Church of England has been known as “the Conservative Party at
prayer”. Catholics and nonconformists (such as Methodists), on the other hand, were
historically persecuted by the Church of England and the British state. They have tended to
support radical, anti-establishment parties such as the Liberals and, more recently, Labour.
Many British Catholics also descend from Irish migrants with roots in the trade union
movement, and hence have stronger ties to Labour. But the tendency of most Christians to be
typically more socially conservative than non-religious voters has meant that their voting
behaviour has been acutely affected by the rising importance of social conservatism and the
“culture wars". Most Republicans say churches and other religious organizations generally do
more good than harm in American society (71%), strengthen morality in society (68%) and
mostly bring people together rather than push them apart (65%), while fewer than half of
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Democrats take each of these positions. In the United Kingdom, Religions vote to parties, for
many beliefs.

Age groups

Voting patterns by age can provide some general insights, but keep in mind that individual
preferences can vary widely. Here's a broad overview of how age groups tend to vote in the
UK: Younger Voters (18-24): Historically, this age group has shown greater support for left-
leaning parties such as Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Issues like education, healthcare,
and climate change tend to resonate with younger voters. Middle-Aged Voters (25-44):
Similar to younger voters, this group often leans towards parties like Labour, with concerns
about economic inequality and social issues. Middle-Aged to Older Voters (45-64):This
group can be more diverse in its voting patterns, with some leaning towards the Conservative
Party due to economic and stability concerns. Older Voters (65+): Historically, older voters
have shown stronger support for the Conservative Party, emphasizing issues like economic
management, pensions, and security. Churchill famously said that “If you’re not a liberal
when you’re 25, you have no heart. If you’re not a conservative by the time you’re 35, you
have no brain.” Voters who enter the electorate at different ages bring to the ballot box
different concerns and this affects the menu of parties they are willing to consider. A student
who votes at 18 may have university tuition rates first on their mind and would consider
voting for Labour and the Greens. A first time homeowner who is 36 may favour the Tories
and fear Labour. The issues citizens feel to be important change over the course of the life
cycle, but identification and non-identification persists much as the players on a football team
change but fans’ loyalty to the team does not.

Gender gaps

Gender gaps exists in support for both large and small parties, but that they vary over time.
The political, institutional, and electoral context shapes gender vote gaps in UK election. The
British election of 2019 saw the largest difference in men’s and women’s average levels of
support for Labour and the Conservatives since the early 1970s. The Conservatives had an
18-percentage point lead over Labour amongst men, but this lead was just 5 percentage points
amongst women. Even more strikingly, 2019 was only the second election where men were
more supportive of the Conservatives than women.

In Britain, younger women voters are more socially liberal than younger men, while older
women are more socially conservative than older men or younger women. The gender gap in
the UK and US has led political parties to target women voters as well as increase the
numbers of women candidates. The Labour party is committed to promoting equality and
diversity and the conservative party stands for promoting traditional values and social
cohesion. Besides, these days LGBT which means " Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender"
and same marriage are more encouraged by Labour than the right wing. For Conservative,
they could not accept this because it was the relationship between religiosity and opposition
to same- sex marriage and separate from nature being human.
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Young women who are supportive of the Labour Party, and this was linked in 2015 and 2017
to their concerns over their financial situation and the provision of services such as the NHS
and are not likely to support the conservative party as the reason of austerity in which include
a sudden increase in tax rates aiming at wealthy people, reducing the number of government
jobs, lowering the wages, removing income tax credits, reductions in welfare spending, the
cancellation of school building programs, and spending on the police, courts and prisons was
also reduced. However, women in the UK because they are more likely to be dependent on
social security and social services. Austerity is defined as the condition of a government or
nation adopting serious policies to bring down the impacts of an economic crisis and usually
consisting of tax increases, spending cuts, or a combination of the two, used by governments
to reduce budget deficits.

Racial Minorities

Across United Kingdom, 82% of people identified with a White ethnic group, 9% with an
Asian ethnic group, 4% with a Black ethnic group, 3% with Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups,
and 2% with other ethnic groups. Following the 2019 General Election of the 66 minority
ethnic, 41 are Labour (62%), 23 are Conservative (35%) and two are Liberal Democrats
(3%). Labour was regarded as more engaged in their communities, more positive than others
about the idea of immigration, and more committed to promoting equality and opportunity for
ethnic minorities. For Black people in UK, they suffer from different definition in work and
in lots of place it's hard to level up from origin position. That's why many of black ethnics
vote Labour Party to get equal rights and opportunities. In 2012, Ethnic minority attitudes to
the Conservative party were deeply hostile to the Conservative party, and associated it with
racist attitudes. For example, one of the more complimentary respondents described the part
that is a party for the white middle class educated person. Others more directive mention was
that "The Tories has a lot of racist policies so it was easy not to vote for them...'If you want a
nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour.

Urban Voting

Generally in UK in urban areas, there is a mix of poorer people and more socially progressive
voters, and for them, policies of the left wing meet their objectives. One of the few laws
political science can offer is that big cities vote liberal or left- wing. The Labour party is
firmly based on the trades unions and co-operative movement, the membership of which
originated in the new urban areas of the Industrial Revolution and traditionally, tended to be
strongest in the areas with the most industrial activity.

Urban areas generally have better access to healthcare, public services, utilities, better
infrastructure, including transportation networks, schools, hospitals, migration and offer a
network of connections and interactions that can enhance career opportunities, business
prospects and social connection. Labour party emphasizes on interests and needs of the urban
working class and stand on equality, social justice and compassion.

These make more attraction on Labour Party to vote. This explained, partly, by the
concentration of the working-class vote in cities- for big cities have big factories. In addition,
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cities are also centers of education and sophistication, places where intellectuals are often
drawn to liberal and leftist causes. Rural and suburban dwellers tend to embrace conservative
values and vote for conservative parties.

Voting Behavior

Voting behaviour is the way that different people tend to vote. People can vote for different
political parties and so that political parties can predict who might vote for them in the future,
which helps them to plan the policies, communication and the people who might best
represent them and persuade voters to vote for them at the next election. The aspects and
reasons that impact the voting patterns of voters are known as electoral behaviour or voting
behaviour. It is also referred to as voters’ engagement and procrastination toward
participation in elections.

Voting behaviour can be roughly divided into long-term and short-term influences. Long-
term influences include social class, gender, race, culture, religion, age, education, housing
tenure and simple long-term political alignment (For instance, people just say “I’m Labour” ).
Short-term influence include the performance of the governing party, major issues, the
electoral campaign, the image of party leaders, the influence of the mass media and major
political events (e.g. war or economic crises).

Some political commentators argue that there is a 'north-south divide' in UK voting

behaviour. Results from UK elections consistently show that the further north and west voters
live the less likely they are to vote Conservative. This pattern increases as an area becomes
more urban. The main reasons to explain the north-south divide relate to employment,
income and wealth (which also relate to social class). People in the south/south-east of the
UK tend to be better off as employment rates and incomes are higher. Therefore people living
there are more likely to vote Conservative. For people in the north/north-west of the UK
(including Scotland, Wales and cities such as Liverpool and Manchester), employment
opportunities and income levels are generally poorer. This explains why people in these parts
of the UK are more likely to vote for parties other than the Conservatives.

Another important geographical pattern in voting relates to urban/rural divides. Labour tends
to do better in large cities, particularly cities where there is a large University, while the
Conservatives do better in rural country areas. People in large cities tend to be more
supportive of high taxes and high public spending. This could be because in large cities
people are more likely to witness the effects of poverty, and also because students generally
tend to be more supportive of left-wing parties. Analysis of the 2017 UK general election
results shows the Conservatives dominated the south, south west and south east of the UK
apart from inner London. Labour was stronger in the north and west of England and the south
of Wales as well as in large cities. The SNP won in Scotland holding 35 of the 59 seats albeit
with only 37% of the vote. The 2019 election showed that there may be a shift in this pattern
with the Conservatives gaining seats in the north of England in the area that was known as
the ‘red wall’.
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There is a link between ethnicity and voting behaviour. The Labour Party has tended to
benefit more from the votes of people from ethnic minority groups. This may be because the
Labour Party has been more closely associated with equality legislation or support for
immigration. It is also the case that most ethnic minority groups experience lower income
levels and higher unemployment compared to white groups, therefore ethnic minority support
for Labour could be due to social class. In the 2019 general election the Conservatives
secured only 20% of the ethnic minority vote whereas Labour secured 64%.

Although there is little overall difference between the way men and women vote, electoral
statistics show that in the 2019 general election, marginally more men voted for the
Conservatives across most age and social classes, than women. One explanation of gender
differences in voting is Labour's greater support for welfare and families from which women
may benefit more directly, eg. tax credits or the minimum wage. Men, on the other hand, tend
to earn more on average than women and as a result may be more attracted to Conservative
policies of lower taxation.

Conclusion

Voting blocs refers to electoral systems in which multiple candidates are elected at once and
a group (voting bloc) of voters can force the system to elect only their preferred candidates.
Voting behavior refers to patterns that can be drawn from analysing voters at the polls over a
period of time. Politicians use information from voting behaviors to create their policies and
to determine how to brand themselves for an election. There are both long-term and short-
term factors that affect voting behavior. Young voters, ethnic minorities and working-class
people have historically had a stronger tendency to vote for left-leaning parties. In the UK ,
the older generations play a pivotal role in election outcomes as the UK is an ageing
population and older generations have a higher vote turnout. Voting is the opportunity for
every citizens. The country must be built by the right voting. And then you can choose your
government. This is one of the biggest benefits of voting. "For better Change, Choose better
One"