Labour's
second term comes with the lowest voter turnout since 1918, when the turnout was
57%. At less than 60%, it is down from 71% in 1997. The full results from
England, Wales and Scotland show that the next parliament will see Labour return
413 MPs, the Conservatives 166, Liberal Democrats 52 and other parties 10.
Labour has a net loss of just six seats, with one gain for the Tories, and there
is a net Liberal Democrat gain of six seats. Elsewhere, the Scottish National
Party lost one seat, giving it a total of five, and Plaid Cymru lost one
and gained another, giving them four. The BBC polled people who decided not to
vote. About 77% said they saw no point in voting as it changed nothing, but,
promisingly, 65% also said that they did not trust politicians. About half said
that the result was a foregone conclusion in any case. Among the 18-24 age group
just 38% said they planed to vote. The figure for the 25-34 group was 45%, and
for the 35-64 group it was 62%.
Written 100 years ago, this book put forward the ‘Iron Rule of Oligarchy’ -- or why any organisation will effectively be run by a small number of people.
The BBC polled people who decided not to vote. About 77% said they saw
no point in voting as it changed nothing, but, promisingly, 65% also
said that they did not trust politicians. About half said that the
result was a foregone conclusion in any case.
Labour's
second term comes with the lowest voter turnout since 1918, when the turnout was
57%. At less than 60%, it is down from 71% in 1997. The full results from
England, Wales and Scotland show that the next parliament will see Labour return
413 MPs, the Conservatives 166, Liberal Democrats 52 and other parties 10.
Labour has a net loss of just six seats, with one gain for the Tories, and there
is a net Liberal Democrat gain of six seats. Elsewhere, the Scottish National
Party lost one seat, giving it a total of five, and Plaid Cymru lost one
and gained another, giving them four. The BBC polled people who decided not to
vote. About 77% said they saw no point in voting as it changed nothing, but,
promisingly, 65% also said that they did not trust politicians. About half said
that the result was a foregone conclusion in any case. Among the 18-24 age group
just 38% said they planed to vote. The figure for the 25-34 group was 45%, and
for the 35-64 group it was 62%. 
