Labour must straddle the education divide to achieve victory – The Social Market Foundation
New research shows the extent to which Labours hopes of achieving power depends on overcoming recent divisions between school-leavers and graduates.
In a paper published today by the Social Market Foundation (a cross-party think tank), leading political scientist Professor Rob Ford presents new analysis of Britains education divide and what it means for the coming general election. It shows that education is now one of the strongest predictors of vote choice and political values.
The divide is relatively recent, Prof Ford shows, having opened up since the 2016 Brexit referendum. In 2014, graduates and school-leavers were as likely to vote for Labour or Conservatives. However, Labour now does much better with university graduates and the Conservatives base has shifted towards those with GCSE qualifications or less.
This poses electoral challenges for all major parties. For the Conservatives to retain power, they can scarcely afford to lose seats in the red wall where school leavers are dominant but declining in numbers, whilst also having to stem losses in blue wall seats where graduates who now shun the party are the largest group. By contrast, for Labour to secure a Commons majority, they must gain at least 120 seats and will have to expand their coalition to include more school leavers, who are overrepresented in the constituencies Labour has lost to the Conservatives since 2015 and needs to win back.
With the political agenda currently dominated by economic issues like the cost-of-living that dont divide people as strongly on educational lines, politicians may have an easier job bringing both sides together. However, there are still big issues on the agenda which divide voters deeply by education, including immigration and the environment. More broadly, university graduates express much more liberal values while school leavers tend to hold authoritarian views value orientations which inform a wide variety of political beliefs.
School leavers are declining rapidly as a share of the electorate everywhere, with particularly steep declines in many competitive red wall seats. Graduate shares are growing fastest in seats in and around London, and a growing swathe of blue wall seats in the London commuter belt now have graduate majorities.
Other key findings include:
Rob Ford, Professor at The University of Manchester and Senior Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe, said:
The education divide is here to stay, with implications for all the political parties. Our new report underlines how education has become a central dividing line in politics, second only to age as a predictor of voters choices. All parties face new challenges from an electoral landscape being reshaped by demographic change, and neither Labour nor the Conservatives can hope to win the next general election without bridging the deep divide between graduates and school leavers, two groups with distinct identities and values who have been at loggerheads ever since the EU referendum.
Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe, said:
Our politics are changing. Recent electoral volatility can be put down to a number of factors. One of these is the emergence of new fault lines such as the education divide identified so clearly in this excellent report. This has significant electoral implications going forward, as Professor Ford clearly argues. It also has implications for perceptions of, and approaches to, higher education.
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Director of the Social Market Foundation, said:
As this research shows, the education divide has emerged rapidly to become one of the most significant electoral phenomena of recent times. That is of vital importance to political strategists seeking to win elections. But the bigger challenge is for the politicians that have to bring graduates and school-leavers together, help them to treat one another with respect and unite them in shared national project. The education divide must be healed, not just exploited.
Notes
Figure 1: Shares (%) of England and Wales residents by qualification level (2001-2021 censuses)
Figure 2: The education divide in Conservative support, 2014-2023
Source: British Election Study internet panel 2014-2023
Figure 3: The education divide in Labour support 2014-2023
Source: British Election Study internet panel 2014-2023
Contact
Visit link:
Labour must straddle the education divide to achieve victory - The Social Market Foundation
- NFL Schedule Release: the Super Bowl for Ticket Sales, Social Media - Sportico - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Emplifi Earns Nine 2024 Top Rated Awards From TrustRadius - Martechcube - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Let them create: Social media marketing expert weighs in on working with creators amid potential TikTok ban - eMarketer - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Aki Technologies and @dudewithsign Partnership Promotes Elevated Social Marketing Standards - EIN News - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- CP LAND Wins Asia's Best Social Media Advertising Campaign - Bangkok Post - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Social Media Market 2024-2030 Giants Spending is Going To Boom | Sprout Social, Brand24, Statusbrew, AgoraPulse ... - openPR - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Study: 55% of businesses plan to increase their use of AI tools in social media strategies - Marketing Interactive - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Fast facts: What's the social sentiment like as Lawrence Wong becomes PM? - Marketing Interactive - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Social Media Management Market is expected to reaching nearly US$ 98.49 Bn in 2030 As Revealed In New Report - WhaTech - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Using LinkedIn to Increase Your Sales - Social Media Examiner - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Using LinkedIn to Increase Your Sales - Social Media Examiner - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- AI social media post generator and manger Unum saves time - Cult of Mac - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- AI social media post generator and manger Unum saves time - Cult of Mac - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Op-Ed | How Long Will the Luxury Myth Last? - The Business of Fashion - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Op-Ed | How Long Will the Luxury Myth Last? - The Business of Fashion - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Social Stealth: The Art of Marketing Without Mentioning It - YourStory - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Social Stealth: The Art of Marketing Without Mentioning It - YourStory - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- TikTok is first social media platform to label AI-generated content - Marketing Beat - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- TikTok is first social media platform to label AI-generated content - Marketing Beat - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- The Power of Influencer Marketing in Direct Selling: Leveraging Social Media to promote brand - Indiantelevision.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- The Power of Influencer Marketing in Direct Selling: Leveraging Social Media to promote brand - Indiantelevision.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- The Top 30 Social Media Influencers Worldwide - Search Engine Journal - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Global social media ad spend to approach 200bn in 2024 - Marketing Week - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- 16 Of The Best Social Media Marketing Courses in 2024 - Search Engine Journal - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Heres what Bumble was teasing with its Renaissance art-themed Instagram posts - Ad Age - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- LinkedIn Data Shows Social Media Marketing is the Most In-Demand Skill on the Platform - Digital Information World - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- SEC charges Trump Media auditor with 'massive fraud' on hundreds of companies, imposes lifetime ban - CNBC - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Compliance makes social media healthcare marketing hard but creativity always wins - The Drum - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- LinkedIn Updates: Short-Form Video, Premium Company Pages, and More - Social Media Examiner - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Humanizing Brands: How brands are creating authentic connections through social media - Adgully - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- A2Z Media Celebrates Nissan Qatar's Award Wins for Marketing Performance and Social Media | LBBOnline - Little Black Book - LBBonline - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Social Media Analytics Market Sees Unprecedented Growth Driven by the Growing Influence of Social Media on ... - StreetInsider.com - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Executives from top Memphis-area social media firms weigh in on trends, AI - The Business Journals - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Master Social Media Marketing with Tips from Small Business Experts - Small Business Trends - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Influencer relationships (with consumers & brands) are evolvingwhat does that mean for marketers? - Sprout Social - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- What is influencer marketing? Grow your market through social media - Simply Business knowledge - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- The Rise of AI Influencers: Exploring the Future of Social Media - AutoGPT - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- As TikTok ban threatens stability in social media ecosystem, some brands settle into the fediverse - Digiday - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- Gen Zers in marketingwhy executives must embrace their ideas for social media success - Ad Age - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- 9 Best Business Automation Software in 2024 - eWeek - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- The 2024 Influencer Marketing Report - Sprout Social - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- Why the U.S. Is Forcing TikTok to Be Sold or Banned - The New York Times - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- Social media marketing strategies to avoid in 2024 - Android Headlines - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- Time to Buy Meta Platforms (META) and Other Social Media Stocks as Earnings Approach? - Yahoo Finance - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- A US TikTok ban could take a bite out of small businesses - BBC.com - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- How Pastor Chad Nedohin Helped Turn Trump Media Into a Meme Stock - The New York Times - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- Content That Triggers Massive Reach on Social Media - Social Media Examiner - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- APA report calls on social media companies to take responsibility to protect youth - APA Psychology News - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- AirChat Uses Voice Technology to Stand Out in Social Media Market - PYMNTS.com - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Gen Z is turning traditional marketing on its head, making social media their primary marketplace, entertainment hub ... - CXOToday.com - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Influencers Harness AI to Boost Fame and Fortune - PYMNTS.com - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Trump's social media company will go public after merger with shell company is approved - WDSU New Orleans - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- Navigating the Uncharted Territory of Social Media Marketing - WebProNews - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- YouTube Updates: Shorts Features, Creator Tools, Podcasts, and More - Social Media Examiner - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- Reddit prices IPO at $34 per share in first major social media offering since 2019 - CNBC - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- What Reddits IPO means for Redditors and what could change - The Washington Post - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- Reddit shares priced at $34 in largest IPO by social media company in years - The Guardian - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- How does Trump stand to make $3bn from Truth Social being listed on the market? - The Guardian US - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- Supreme Court appears favorable to Biden administration in social-media case - MarketWatch - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- Social media marketing alters the ad landscape with a focus on sustainability - Campaign Middle East - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Social Media Marketing In the Digital Age - MarTech Outlook - February 19th, 2024 [February 19th, 2024]
- Valentine's Day takes over in SG: Brands share their unique love stories on social - Marketing Interactive - February 19th, 2024 [February 19th, 2024]
- How brands are planning to navigate the social media & marketing landscape in 2024 - The Drum - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Driving Conversions With Hyperlocal Social Media Marketing - NeilPatel.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- 13 Social Media Experts Offer Their Predictions For 2024 - Search Engine Journal - December 30th, 2023 [December 30th, 2023]
- Social T Marketing & PR Expands Team with 2 New Hires - The Valley Ledger - December 17th, 2023 [December 17th, 2023]
- Consumers to abandon social media but accept GenAI search results marketing survey shows - Moonshot News - December 17th, 2023 [December 17th, 2023]
- Dear companies, your social media marketing is tedious and it's cheapening your brand - The Peak Singapore - December 17th, 2023 [December 17th, 2023]
- Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: 15 to 26 November ... - Office for National Statistics - December 1st, 2023 [December 1st, 2023]
- Destinations weigh up impact of AI - PhocusWire - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- Sociable: Will chaos at OpenAI benefit social media's AI projects? - Marketing Dive - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- Big Bang Social & Comscore Partner to Revolutionize Creator ... - Adgully - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- USF researchers help reduce lead levels in Madagascar drinking ... - University of South Florida - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- 5 marketing lessons from the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce romance - Kansas Reflector - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- Apple and Disney Halt Ads on X After Musk Endorses Antisemitic Post - The New York Times - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- News Release Holidays at the Market Returns Sunday with ... - City of Rochester (.gov) - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- SMF responds to Autumn Statement 2023 - The Social Market Foundation - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- Dove partners popular virtual ghost influencer in latest positivity push - Marketing Interactive - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- This social media app is surprisingly the most popular among online ... - Marketing Interactive - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]
- California Clean Boating Network (CCBN) Meeting The Log - The Log Newspaper - November 23rd, 2023 [November 23rd, 2023]