Challenges to Campaigning Young people & politics Matt Korris Senior Researcher Hansard Society

1. Challenges to CampaigningYoung people & politicsMatt KorrisSenior ResearcherHansard Society

2. Methodology Annual survey: ~1,000 in-home, face to face interviews (Ipsos Mori / TNS BMRB) Representative quota sample – weighted to national population profile Great Britain only (since Audit 5) Adults aged 18+ Booster interviews: Scotland, Wales, Black & Minority Ethnic individuals Audit of Political Engagement 2

3. Dataset 10 year dataset combined into one SPSS file 15,000 cases (unweighted) 13,000 cases (weighted, GB, 18+, standard timings) http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/research/public-attitudes/audit-of-political-engagement/ Audit of Political Engagement 3

4. Interest in Politics % very interested/fairly interested in politics Audit of Political Engagement 10 4

5. Knowledge of Politics % know a great deal/a fair amount about politics Audit of Political Engagement 10 5

6. Knowledge & Complexity Correct Wrong/DK Members of the House of Lords are elected by the British public Government & Parliament are the same thing The minimum age for voting is 16 67% 71% 60% 33% 29% 40% 33% 29% 40%

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

8. Certainty to vote % certain to vote Audit of Political Engagement 10 8

9. Certainty to vote Do I look bovvered? Voting?whatevs 30% 22% 12% Audit 9 (2012) Audit 10 (2013) Audit 8 (2011) 34% of 18-24s are certain not to vote Audit of Political Engagement 10 9

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

11. But what about social media & online activism? Have done in last year Would do if you felt strongly enough Contributed to a discussion or campaign online or on social media 3% 9% Expressed my political opinions online 6% Joined a political group on Facebook / Followed a politician or political group on Twitter 5% Audit of Political Engagement 11

12. Sources of political news & information Audit of Political Engagement 9 12

13. Sources of political news & information Audit of Political Engagement 9 13

14. So is there ANY good news? 18-24 25-34 Want to be involved in local decision-making 47% 45% 57% Want to be involved in national decision-making 42% 42% 51% Would be willing to do at least one activity from a list if they felt strongly about an issue 78% 70% 72% We know young people are interested in political issues & do engage with single issue campaigns Audit of Political Engagement 10 14 14

15. Efficacy of involvement % strongly/fairly agree that when people like me get involved in politics they can really change the way the country is run Audit of Political Engagement 10 15

16. Challenges to Campaigning… Lack of knowledge/understanding is a significant barrier Worrying trends on voting – especially among young people TV dominates as a political news source. Social media a much smaller influence even among young people Audit of Political Engagement

17. Matt Korrismatt@hansardsociety.org.uk@MattKorrishansardsociety.org.uk

18. Links to further info Data from: http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/research/public-attitudes/audit-of-political-engagement/ Focus group data held on this ESRC data archive page: http://store.data-archive.ac.uk/store/collaborativeCollectionEdit.jsp?collectionPID=archive%3A697 Conntected research for the focus groups: http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/research/public-attitudes/anti-politics/