X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT Dr Ruth Fox Matt Korris Hansard Society Chloe Smith MP Cabinet Office Natascha Engel MP Chair, Backbench Business Committee Peter Oborne Daily Telegraph

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 2 A one-year ‘blip’? Audit of Political Engagement

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 3 Propensity to vote Audit of Political Engagement 10 Audit 1 (2004) Mean propensity to vote (out of 10) Audit 10 (2013) Just 41% say they would be ‘certain to vote’ in an immediate general election 20% are certain not to vote

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 4 Voting and young people Audit of Political Engagement 10 Audit 9 (2012) Audit 10 (2013) 30% 22% Audit 8 (2011) 12% Certain to vote Do I look bovvered? Voting? whatevs

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 5 Knowledge & Complexity Audit of Political Engagement 10 It’s all too confusing. I don’t understand it – I ignore it. 55% find politics complicated and hard for a person like me to understand 42% feel they know at least ‘a fair amount’ about politics

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT Knowledge & Complexity The minimum age for voting is 16 71% Government & Parliament are the same thing 29% Members of the House of Lords are elected by the British public 67% 33% 60% 40% Correct Wrong/DK 29% 33% 40%

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 45% 55% You are automatically registered to vote if you pay council tax 7 Knowledge & Complexity Correct Wrong/DK 29% 33% 40% 48% 45% 57% British Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by British voters Political parties receive some state funding 52% 48% 43% 57%

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 8 Parliament and MPs Audit of Political Engagement 10 Fewer people than ever know the name of their MP Audit 8 (2011) Audit 10 (2013) 38% Audit 1-7 ( ) 22% 44%

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 9 Parliament and MPs Audit of Political Engagement 10 Satisfied 6 No view MPs in general 34% My MP 48% Satisfaction decreased Ambivalence increased 23% 40% since Audit 7 (2010) Satisfied No view

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 10 Parliament and MPs Audit of Political Engagement 10 Satisfied with Parliament 47% 55% 27% Parliament ‘holds government to account’ Parliament ‘debates and makes decisions about issues that matter to me’ 9 6 since Audit 8 (2011) since Audit 9 (2012) Select committees + Urgent Questions + backbench business = topical issues

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT Dr Ruth Fox Matt Korris Hansard Society Chloe Smith MP Cabinet Office Natascha Engel MP Chair, Backbench Business Committee Peter Oborne Daily Telegraph

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 12 Knowledge & Complexity Audit of Political Engagement 10 wish they had learned more about politics at school 50% How government works How laws are made and implemented How Parliament works How best to have my say about politics 45% 34% 27% 47% Desired knowledge:

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 13 Getting involved…or not Audit of Political Engagement 10 27% Have done in last year Vote in an election Would do if you felt strongly enough Donate to charity/campaign Create/sign e-petition Create/sign paper petition Contact local councillor/MP 20% 17% 9% 8% 42% 25% 35% 41%

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 14 Audit of Political Engagement 10 Getting involved…or not Vote in election Donate to charity Sign e-petition Sign paper petition Contact politician Done at least one… 50% 78% Contact media Boycott product Take part in consultation Discuss online Active campaign role Demonstrate or picket Donate to party Attend political meeting Would do at least one…

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 15 Local and national decision-making Audit of Political Engagement 10 47% 42% Want to be involved in local decision-making Want to be involved in national decision-making 9 9 since Audit 9 (2012)

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 16 Local and national decision-making A person like me could do a good job as a local councillor A person like me could do a good job as a local MP 27% 22%

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 17 Potential participants Audit of Political Engagement 10 Similar attitudes

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 18 Politics vs. Current Affairs Audit of Political Engagement 10 42% 71% Interested in politics Interested in news and current affairs 92% of people who are interested in politics are interested in current affairs 47% of people who are interested in news and current affairs are ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ interested in politics Anti- party politics? 33% of the public

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 19 Politics vs. Current Affairs Audit of Political Engagement 10 33% of the public 36% 31% 18% 39% 37% 34% AB C1 C2 DE X

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT 20 Reforming British politics Audit of Political Engagement 10

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT Conclusions 20 Audit of Political Engagement 10 Worrying trends on voting – especially among young people Increasing ambivalence about MPs, but more positive about Parliament A greater desire for involvement in decision-making, but through what methods if not voting?

X AXIS LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT CHART TOP Y AXIS LIMIT Dr Ruth Fox Matt Korris Hansard Society Chloe Smith MP Cabinet Office Natascha Engel MP Chair, Backbench Business Committee Peter Oborne Daily Telegraph