{"id":1833,"date":"2018-05-01T10:35:37","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T09:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.electoral-reform.org.uk\/?p=1833"},"modified":"2023-08-03T15:08:23","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T14:08:23","slug":"a-new-report-shows-we-need-urgent-action-to-revive-our-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/electoral-reform.org.uk\/a-new-report-shows-we-need-urgent-action-to-revive-our-democracy\/","title":{"rendered":"A new report shows we need urgent action to revive our democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For the past fifteen years, the Hansard Society<\/a> \u2013 a thinktank which promotes parliamentary democracy \u2013 has published its Audit of Political Engagement. The Audit is an attempt to measure the level of engagement of Britons in politics, through an annual survey.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> has just been released \u2013 and it features some fascinating findings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s some cheering news. 57% of respondents say they are interested in politics, for instance, and 52% say they are knowledgeable \u2013 and overall the report shows an uptick amongst traditionally less engaged groups such as BME respondents, more working-class respondents and women. This is to be celebrated \u2013 though it should be noted that the Hansard Society has often found that such scores tend to spike before and after general elections.<\/p>\n

Yet the report also highlights some yawning deficits in Britain\u2019s democracy, particularly with regards to people\u2019s satisfaction with the political system. <\/strong><\/p>\n

67% of respondents say the political system either needs a lot of improvement or could be improved quite a lot. Only 29% say they are satisfied with the system. This is a fall from previous years.<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”67% of respondents say the political system either needs a lot of improvement or could be improved quite a lot. Only 29% say they are satisfied with the system.” username=”electoralreform”]<\/p>\n

There are divides even within this findings. In general, satisfaction with our democracy appears to fall as one gets further from London. It is 41% in London, and 37% in the South West and South East of England.<\/p>\n

Yet the figure plummets to just 28% in the Midlands and Eastern of England, 23% in the North of England, 23% in Wales and just 14% in Scotland.<\/p>\n

When asked about different facets of the system, the public continue to demonstrate cynicism. Only 22% believe it ensures the views of most Britons are represented, 21% believe it allows ordinary people to get involved in politics, and only 22% believe that the system allows voters a final say over Britain\u2019s future direction.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most damning is the finding that only 23% believe that the political system is good at delivering what is supposed to be its key strength \u2013 delivering stable government.<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”Only 23% believe that the political system is good at delivering what is supposed to be its key strength \u2013 stable government.” username=”electoralreform”]<\/p>\n

This is unsurprising given Britain\u2019s political system squeezes out voices and narrows the terms of the political debate. It is also unsurprising given that the mechanics of the electoral system is failing on its own terms \u2013 unable to deliver the kind of sizeable single party majority that first past the post is supposed to deliver.<\/p>\n

Our analysis of last year\u2019s general election<\/a> showed that under Westminster\u2019s voting system we saw:<\/p>\n