Politics and the Constitution a mystery to half the public - 27 March, 2008

Mixed messages on political and constitutional reform

The Hansard Society's fifth Audit of Political Engagement, published today, reveals a high level of political ignorance about politics and constitutional arrangements in Britain:

• 55% of the British public say they know not very much or nothing at all about politics
• 48% say they have never heard of, or know hardly anything at all about, the constitutional arrangements governing Britain
• 31% have never heard of, or know hardly anything at all about the European Union

The survey also shows mixed levels of satisfaction with these arrangements:

• The highest level of satisfaction (67% very or fairly satisfied) is with keeping the voting age at 18. Only 12% of young people aged 18-24 are dissatisfied with the current voting age
• The lowest level of satisfaction (46% very or fairly dissatisfied) is with Scottish MPs being able to vote on English issues in the House of Commons

There is very little consensus on priorities for reform; even the most popular choices are identified by only a quarter of the population.

• The most popular areas for reform are:
• How the Human Rights Act works in practice (26%)
• How political parties are funded (24%)
• The least popular areas for reform are:
• Britain's unwritten Constitution (9%)
• Changing the voting age to 16 (9%)

In addition, the Audit reveals a deterioration in political engagement since 2004:

• 31% of people agree with the statement ‘when people like me get involved in politics, they really can change the way that the country is run' - compared to 37% in 2004
• 24% of people think that the system of governing needs a great deal of improvement - compared to 18% in 2004
• 12% are ‘politically active' - compared to 14% in 2004

Peter Riddell, Chair of the Hansard Society, commented: ‘The Audit reveals high level of political ignorance about Britain's constitutional arrangements at a time when the government is bringing forward a programme of reform. It demonstrates the enormous challenge facing all of us who are working for greater public engagement and democratic renewal. Furthermore, one of the most striking points is how little public interest or support there is for calls for votes at 16, electoral reform or fixed-term parliaments.'

Michael Wills MP, Minister for Constitutional Reform, Ministry of Justice, commented: ‘Constitutional reform and democratic renewal are key priorities for the Government, and I welcome the Hansard Society's valuable contribution to our understanding of some of the key issues that we need to address. The findings of the latest Audit will help to shape the Governance of Britain work programme, and show how vital it is that we explore ways to reconnect people with their democracy.'

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 or 07812 765 552

Editors' Notes

• The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan political research and education charity. We aim to strengthen parliamentary democracy and encourage greater public involvement in politics.
• An Audit of Political Engagement 5 is the fifth Audit in a series which started in 2004, produced jointly by the Hansard Society and the Electoral Commission. This year's is the first Audit produced solely by the Hansard Society, with funding from the House of Commons and the Ministry of Justice.
• For more information and to download Audit 5, click here.
  
• Further Audit findings show:
• Views on Parliament, government and MPs
• 75% of people agree that ‘a strong Parliament is good for democracy'
• 74% feel that ‘government does not spend enough time listening to the views of individual members of the public'
• 74% believe that ‘MPs spend too much money on expenses'
• 72% think that ‘MPs are essential in representing the views of their constituents'
• 66% agree that ‘MPs need sufficient resource to properly represent and inform their constituents'
• Understanding of political and constitutional issues
• A clear majority have never heard of, or know hardly anything about:
• The powers that government can currently exercise without Parliament's approval (75%)
• Proposed reforms to the House of Lords (71%)
• Whether Britain needs a new Bill of Rights (68%)
• How the Human Rights Act works in practice (63%)
• How the date of a general election is chosen (60%)
• How political parties are funded (58%)
• Knowledge of politics
• 44% of people say they know a ‘great deal' or ‘a fair amount' about politics
• 52% of men compared to 37% of women claim to know ‘a fair amount' or 'a great deal' about politics
• 63% of 65-74 age group compared to 16% of 18-24 age group claim to know ‘a fair amount' or 'a great deal' about politics
• 63% of ABs compared to 20% of DEs claim to know ‘a fair amount' or 'a great deal' about politics
• Interest in politics
• 51% of the public say they are either ‘very' or ‘fairly' interested in politics
• 19% are ‘not at all' interested in politics
• 58% of men compared to 45% of women are ‘very' or ‘fairly' interested in politics
• 69% of 65-74 age group compared to 33% of 18-24 age group are ‘very' or ‘fairly' interested in politics
• 68% of ABs compared to 28% of DEs are ‘very' or ‘fairly' interested in politics
• 27% of BMEs compared to 53% of white people are ‘very' or ‘fairly' interested in politics
• 27% of people in Wales compared to 51% in GB as a whole are ‘very' or ‘fairly' interested in politics
• Voting
• 53% of people say they would be ‘absolutely certain' to vote
• 78% of 65-74 age group compared to 23% of 18-24 age group are absolutely certain to vote
• 55% of women compared to 52% of men are absolutely certain to vote
• 66% of ABs compared to 34% of DEs are absolutely certain to vote
• 65% of people in Scotland compared to 41% of people in Wales are absolutely certain to vote
• The information in An Audit of Political Engagement 5 is based on a Political Engagement Poll undertaken by Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute on behalf of the Hansard Society. Ipsos MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,073 adults aged 18+ in Great Britain. Interviewing took place face-to-face, in respondents' homes, between 29 November and 7 December 2007. The data has been weighted to the national population profile.