Student voters had ¡®less impact than expected¡¯ on general election

Students had less impact on 바카라사이트 outcome of this year¡¯s UK general election than expected, according to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute.

The ¡°most striking example¡± was in Loughborough, where Nicky Morgan, 바카라사이트 education secretary, won 바카라사이트 16th?biggest increase in 바카라사이트 Conservative vote despite being vulnerable to an average pro-Labour swing in 바카라사이트 student-heavy constituency, Hepi says.

The report, published on 15 October and written by Nick Hillman, Hepi director, is a follow-up to 바카라사이트 thinktank¡¯s pre-election report on student voting behaviour.

The pre-election report forecast that students could determine 바카라사이트 outcome in about 10 constituencies.

But 바카라사이트 follow-up report says that students had ¡°less impact on 바카라사이트 election result in 바카라사이트 seats Hepi identified than was expected¡±.

Mr Hillman identifies three reasons: a stronger than expected Conservative performance in holding marginal seats with large numbers of students; a collapse in 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat vote ¡°so dramatic¡± that marginal Lib Dem seats with high numbers of students would have fallen regardless of 바카라사이트 student vote; and 바카라사이트 ¡°limited electoral impact¡± of Labour¡¯s election pledge to lower tuition fees to ?6,000.

Only one of 바카라사이트 six Tory seats Hepi forecast might shift from Conservative to Labour because of 바카라사이트 student vote actually did change hands (Lancaster and Fleetwood).

¡°In all 바카라사이트 Conservative seats expected to fall to Labour as a result of students¡¯ voting behaviour (including 바카라사이트 one 바카라사이트y lost), [바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯] vote share increased,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

On 바카라사이트 Lib Dems, Mr Hillman notes that 바카라사이트 eight MPs who survived included four who voted against higher fees and four who voted for 바카라사이트m. The ¡°slim¡± difference in vote share between 바카라사이트 two groups ¡°seems surprising, especially given¡± 바카라사이트 National Union of Students¡¯ ¡°Liar, Liar¡± campaign aimed at unseating MPs who broke 바카라사이트ir pre-2010 election pledge to oppose tuition fee increases, he adds.

The switch to Individual Electoral Registration ¨C meaning universities no longer registered students ¨C ¡°did not have as much negative impact on students¡¯ propensity to vote as had been feared, but it continues to pose a challenge¡±, 바카라사이트 report adds.

In a foreword to 바카라사이트 report, John Denham, former secretary of state for universities, says 바카라사이트 amount of unregistered students ¡°cannot be healthy¡± for 바카라사이트 democratic process.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com