HSAudit2014_9mmSpine_Layout 1 15/04/2014 15:47 Page 1 AUDIT OF Audit of Political POLITICAL Audit of Political Engagement 11 ENGAGEMENT Engagement 11 The 2014 Report on the accountability 11 The 2014 Report and conduct of MPs with a focus on the accountability and conduct of MPs The Audit of Political Engagement is the only annual health check on our democratic system. Now in its 11th year, each Audit measures the ‘political pulse’ of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion across Great Britain with regard to politics and the political process. This year’s report explores public attitudes to politics and compares them with the Audit results at the same stage before the 2005 and 2010 general elections. It also looks at public attitudes to the forthcoming European parliamentary elections, and examines the complexity of public attitudes to voting. In addition to the key indicators of political engagement, the report looks in greater detail at the efficacy of Parliament in carrying out some of its core functions, and issues pertaining to the conduct and behaviour of MPs, including at Prime Minister’s Questions. The report concludes with an analysis of a range of options for holding politicians more effectively to account between general elections. The Hansard Society is an independent, non-partisan political research and education organisation, working in the UK and around the world to promote democracy and strengthen parliaments. THE 2014 www.hansardsociety.org.uk REPORT ISBN: 978 0900432 93 4 HSAudit2014_9mmSpine_Layout 1 15/04/2014 15:47 Page 2 Audit of Political Engagement 2008 The 5th Report a special focus on the Constitution Hansard Society Co-Presidents: Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons and Rt Hon Baroness D’Souza CMG, Lord Speaker Vice Presidents: Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP Lord Grocott (Chair) Roshana Arasaratnam (Hon Treasurer) Dr Ruth Fox (Director and Head of Research) The Hansard Society believes that the health of representative democracy rests on the foundation of a strong Parliament and an informed and engaged citizenry. Founded in 1944, we are a charity working in the UK and around the world to promote democracy and strengthen parliaments. An independent, non-partisan Text and graphics © Hansard Society 2014 political research and education Society, our work is devoted to: Published by the Hansard Society, 5th Floor, 9 King Street, London EC2V 8EA Exploring the evolution of representative democracy: offering evidence-based Tel: 020 7710 6070. Fax: 020 7710 6088. Email: [email protected] ideas for reform of political and parliamentary institutions, processes and culture to help foster democratic renewal. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, without the prior permission of the Hansard Society. Educating citizens, particularly young people: so that they have the knowledge and confidence to play an active role in our democracy and be future leaders in The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors. The Hansard Society, as an civic and political life. independent, non-party organisation, is happy to invite analysis and discussion of these views. Connecting citizens with parliamentarians and policy-makers: through innovative For more information about other Hansard Society publications visit our website at on and offline initiatives to address the democratic deficit. www.hansardsociety.org.uk Convening debate on topical political issues: providing a non-partisan forum for Cover design by Ann Watson-Thomas at www.annexdesign.co.uk the exchange of ideas about our democratic future. Sub-editing by Virginia Gibbons Design & layout by Impress Print Services Enquiries about membership or the work of the Hansard Society should be Printed and bound in Great Britain by Impress Print Services addressed to Dr Ruth Fox, Director and Head of Research, th Cover images: Left: © David Spender - Flickr; Centre: © Roberto Schmidt - AFP - Getty; Hansard Society, 5 Floor, 9 King Street, London EC2V 8EA, by email to Right: © Christopher Neve - Flickr [email protected], or visit the website at www.hansardsociety.org.uk 92320_Hansard APE11:Text 4/17/14 3:53 PM Page f1 Audit of Political Engagement 11 The 2014 Report with a focus on the accountability and conduct of MPs 92320_Hansard APE11:Text 4/17/14 3:53 PM Page f2 Blank 92320_Hansard APE11:Text 4/17/14 3:53 PM Page f3 Contents Table of Figures iii Preface 1 Executive summary 3 1. About this report 7 2. The political context 11 3. Public attitudes 18 months before a general election 23 The fluctuating pattern of engagement A ‘duty’ to vote? The importance of partisanship and interest An on-going sense of powerlessness? The efficacy and accountability of MPs 4. The engagement indicators A. Knowledge and interest 33 Interest in politics Perceived knowledge of politics Perceived knowledge of Parliament B. Action and participation 39 Propensity to vote Voter registration Propensity to vote: the European election Differing attitudes to elections Sense of partisanship Political activities C. Efficacy and satisfaction 49 Present system of governing Perceived political efficacy D Political involvement locally and nationally 53 Desire for involvement in local and national decision-making Influence over local and national decision-making i 92320_Hansard APE11:Text 4/17/14 5:07 PM Page f4 5. Perceptions of Parliament 59 The importance and relevance of Parliament Prime Minister’s Questions Public expectations of politicians Improving accountability Appendices 81 A. Change in polling contractor B. Quantitative survey methodology C. Audit of Political Engagement (APE) Poll topline findings Acknowledgements This report was produced by Ruth Fox and Matt Korris, with assistance from Virginia Gibbons, Petya Pavlova and Luke Boga Mitchell. The Hansard Society is grateful to the House of Commons and the Cabinet Office for supporting the Audit project. The Economic and Social Research Council funded qualitative research into public attitudes to politics on which this Audit also draws (RES-000-22-4441). We thank Professor Gerry Stoker (Professor of Politics and Governance, University of Southampton), Professor Colin Hay (University of Sheffield and Sciences Po, Paris) for their on-going advice and support. As ever, this work could not have been conducted without the professional support and advice of Gideon Skinner, Roger Mortimore and Michael Clemence at Ipsos MORI and Tom Mludzinski, formerly of Ipsos MORI. This report also draws on qualitative online research conducted by Jane Carn and Stefanie Tetenberg at YouGov. Finally, our thanks to Ann Watson-Thomas for the front cover design. ii 92320_Hansard APE11:Text 4/17/14 3:53 PM Page f5 Table of Figures Figure 1: Engagement levels – Audit comparisons at the same point before a 24 general election Figure 2: Duty to vote and certainty to vote at general and European elections 25 Figure 3: Certainty to vote at the general election by party affinity 27 Figure 4: Interest in politics 34 Figure 5: Interest in politics by demographic group 35 Figure 6: Perceived knowledge of politics 36 Figure 7: Knowledge of politics by demographic group 37 Figure 8: Perceived knowledge of Parliament 38 Figure 9: Knowledge of Parliament by demographic group 39 Figure 10: Propensity to vote 40 Figure 11: Certainty to vote by demographic group 41 Figure 12: Propensity to vote in the European election 42 Figure 13: Propensity to vote in a general election vs. certainty to vote in the 42 European election Figure 14: Propensity to vote in the European election by demographic group 43 Figure 15: Attitudes to different types of election 44 Figure 16: Sense of partisanship 45 Figure 17: Sense of partisanship by demographic group 46 Figure 18: Political activities: actual and potential 47 Figure 19: Political activities: actual and potential by demographic group 48 Figure 20: Present system of governing 49 Figure 21: Satisfaction with the present system of governing by demographic 50 group Figure 22: Perceived national political efficacy 52 iii 92320_Hansard APE11:Text 4/17/14 3:53 PM Page f6 Figure 23: Perceived national political efficacy by demographic group 53 Figure 24: Desire for involvement locally 54 Figure 25: Desire for involvement nationally 54 Figure 26: Desire for involvement in decision-making locally and nationally by 55 demographic group Figure 27: Influence over local decision-making 56 Figure 28: Influence over national decision-making 57 Figure 29: Influence over decision-making locally and nationally by demographic 58 group Figure 30: Perceptions of Parliament 60 Figure 31: Perceptions of Parliament by demographic group 62 Figure 32: Words most commonly associated with Prime Minister’s Questions 63 Figure 33: Words most commonly associated with Prime Minister’s Questions by 64 focus group Figure 34: Proportion of the public who have watched/heard PMQs 65 Figure 35: Proportion of the public who have watched/heard PMQs by age 66 Figure 36: Consumption of PMQs by demographic group 67 Figure 37: Attitudes to PMQs 69 Figure 38: Attitudes to PMQs: net satisfaction score by level of consumption 71 Figure 39: Expectations of politicians 76 Figure 40: Political reform proposals 78 iv 92320_Hansard APE11:Text 4/17/14 3:53 PM Page 1 Preface Preface The Audit of Political Engagement, our flagship publication, has measured the political pulse of the nation for over a decade, providing an annual health check on public attitudes to our democracy. Going beyond the normal vagaries of day-to-day politics, it offers greater depth and insight into public perceptions of our political system by virtue of its long-term perspective and analysis of underlying trends. This year’s report, the 11th in the series, examines the key indicators of political engagement, and compares public attitudes to those recorded in previous Audits at the same stage, 18 months prior to the general elections of 2005 and 2010.