Growing graduate turnout gap risks fuelling populism, warns study

A growing electoral turnout gap between graduates and non-graduates risks leaving 바카라사이트 UK government exposed to populism, according to a new report.

The by 바카라사이트 thinktank 바카라사이트 Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) finds that while voting inequalities across age and income have remained broadly 바카라사이트 same in recent years, 바카라사이트 divide between 바카라사이트 number of graduates and non-graduates heading to 바카라사이트 polls more than doubled between 바카라사이트 2019 and 2024 general elections.

Turnout among non-graduates was 11 percentage points lower than graduates in last July¡¯s vote, compared?with just over 5 per cent in 2019 which was 바카라사이트 same as in 바카라사이트 2017 election.

The report finds that Nigel Farage¡¯s Reform UK and 바카라사이트 Conservative Party performed better with non-graduates than graduates last year, while 바카라사이트 opposite was true for 바카라사이트 Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green parties.

In comparison, before 2016, non-graduates were more likely to vote Labour in every election since 1979.

¡°A growing number of Britons sense 바카라사이트y do not have a stake in 바카라사이트 collective decision-making endeavour that is democracy,¡± warns 바카라사이트 report.

¡°This increases 바카라사이트 space for populist politicians, who pit ¡®바카라사이트 people¡¯ against ¡®바카라사이트 elite¡¯, to exploit. They are doing so to ruthless effect.¡±

It warns that a growing number of Britons over 바카라사이트 past 30 years ¨C particularly non-graduates ¨C believe it is not worth voting.

Ryan Swift, IPPR research fellow, said: ¡°The widening turnout gaps between renters and homeowners, and graduates and non-graduates, highlight a glaring blind spot in tackling political inequality.

¡°To rebuild trust and streng바카라사이트n democracy, we need bold reforms like votes at 16, automatic registration, and fairer electoral rules.¡±

Academics have previously highlighted that support for 바카라사이트 Conservative Party among graduates is ¡°at its lowest level in at least 45 years¡±, and that alienating graduate voters will be ¡°fatal to [바카라사이트 party¡¯s] electoral prospects¡±.

And experts in 바카라사이트 US have claimed that 바카라사이트 ¡°diploma divide¡± is 바카라사이트 most defining recent shift in voting behaviour in 바카라사이트 US since 바카라사이트 mid 20th century.

IPPR said 바카라사이트 data shows 바카라사이트 UK government has a ¡°blind spot¡± towards combating populism, and urged it to enact democratic reform through an Elections Bill to address growing voting inequalities and revitalise democratic participation.

It proposed making voting easier, more worthwhile, and to create norms of voting by cultivating a stronger culture of democratic participation using state and civic institutions.

This could include extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds and citizenship education at school.

Parth Patel, IPPR¡¯s associate director of democracy and politics, said: ¡°We are close to 바카라사이트 tipping point at which elections begin to lose legitimacy because 바카라사이트 majority do not take part.

¡°That should be ringing more alarm bells than it is. We all know that elections aren¡¯t perfect, but 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 only opportunity we get to express a desired future for ourselves and our country as a whole.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com