Schools making up an ‘electorate’ of over 46,000 young people returned their results to the Hansard Society’s 2019 Mock Elections, which were held to coincide with the December general election and continued a series extending back over 50 years. Labour emerged as the clear ‘winner’ of the 2019 mock poll.

‘Turnout’ across the participating schools was 72% – higher than the 67% figure for the real general election, and representing over 30,000 young people casting their vote.

The results differed markedly from the real general election outcome:

  • Labour emerged as the clear winner, with a 33.9% vote share.
  • The Liberal Democrats came second, with 20.5%.
  • The Conservatives were third, with 18.7%.
  • The Green Party was fourth, with 15.6%.

(The figures in this post differ marginally from those we announced on 12 December, owing to a number of schools submitting their results after the deadline for inclusion in the announcement on the evening of the general election.)

Across the participating schools, roughly equal numbers of candidates (between 55 and 59) stood for each of these four leading parties. Thirty-two candidates stood for the Brexit Party, which came fifth with 3.5% of the vote.

In total, over 300 pupils and students stood as candidates.

Forty-nine stood as candidates for made-up parties, as independents, or as candidates for parties falling outside the best-placed five, including the Pirate Party, Plaid Cymru, the SNP, UKIP and the Women’s Equality Party. Of the made-up parties, several evidenced environmental priorities (the Save our World Party, the Exit Plastic Party), and others suggested local school-level concerns (the More Outside and Inside Equipment Party).

#MockElections2019 on social media

In Northumberland, Ponteland High’s Mock Election was covered by ITV News Tyne Tees:

Meanwhile, Seaford College in Sussex made a video of its Mock Election and saw its poll covered in the local press.

Many other participating schools and teachers also shared images of their Mock Elections on social media:

Hansard Society Mock Elections

One of the oldest and largest civic education projects anywhere in the world, Mock Elections has been run by the Hansard Society at every UK general election for over 50 years.

In 2019, the Society again made available a free download of all the resources teachers and pupils needed to run a mock poll.

Research has shown that participating in citizenship-related activities at school, such as mock elections, makes young people more likely to have positive attitudes towards political participation as adults and more likely to engage in political activity. This applies even when controlling for other relevant factors, such as higher levels of formal education.

Several candidates in the real 2019 general election, as well as former MPs and other prominent political figures, participated in mock elections when they were at school and were inspired to go on to Westminster.

Enjoy reading this? Please consider sharing it

Latest

EU flag missing a star, symbolising Brexit
blog / 22.01.21

Brexit and Beyond: Delegated Legislation

The end of the transition period is likely to expose even more fully the scope of the policy-making that the government can carry out via Statutory Instruments, as it uses its new powers to develop post-Brexit law. However, there are few signs yet of a wish to reform delegated legislation scrutiny, on the part of government or the necessary coalition of MPs.

Brexit and Beyond: Delegated Legislation
EU and UK flags in front of Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster
blog / 29.12.20

Parliament’s role in scrutinising the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement is a farce

Parliament’s role around the end of the Brexit transition and conclusion of the EU future relationship treaty is a constitutional failure to properly scrutinise the executive and the law. As the UK moves to do things differently after 1 January, MPs must do more to ensure they can better discharge their responsibilities regarding the making of UK treaties.

Parliament’s role in scrutinising the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement is a farce
Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer in a socially distanced House of Commons chamber, 23 September 2020. ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor
publications / briefings / 2020

Expediting of the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill through Parliament: five issues

The EU (Future Relationship) Bill is to be considered by both Houses in just one sitting day. How unusual is such an expedited timetable and how much time will parliamentarians really have to look at the Bill? How will MPs participate in proceedings given Covid-19 restrictions? And how will proceedings, particularly the amendment process, work on the day?

Expediting of the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill through Parliament: five issues
'First virtual PMQs and Ministerial statement on Coronavirus', © UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor.
blog / 04.12.20

Why the exclusion of pregnant MPs from the House of Commons during Covid-19 matters – for them and for others

The debate about remote participation in House of Commons proceedings raises critical questions about what constitutes a ‘good parliamentarian’, what ‘fair’ participation looks like, and who gets to decide. As things stand, the exclusion from much parliamentary business of pregnant women, among others, undermines equality of political representation.

Why the exclusion of pregnant MPs from the House of Commons during Covid-19 matters – for them and for others
blog / 04.12.20

Reviewing Restoration and Renewal and planning for a post-pandemic Parliament

The Coronavirus pandemic has added to the questions surrounding the nature of the Parliament that should emerge from the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal programme. But, with concerns over the programme’s governance and public engagement rising, the report arising from the current review of the programme will not now be published this year.

Reviewing Restoration and Renewal and planning for a post-pandemic Parliament
Covent Garden Market, Westminster election, 1 Jully 1808 (designed and etched by Thomas Rowlandson), This print records temporary wooden stands erected outside St.Paul's Church in Covent Garden Market to allow politicians running for Parliament in the Westminster election to address voters. On this occasion a large crowd has gathered, carrying banners and spilling out into the square, with some figures perched on a roof at right to listen to a speaker. (Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
blog / 13.11.20

Controverted elections: how disputed results used to be part and parcel of English political and parliamentary life

Disputed parliamentary election results – often taking months to resolve – were a frequent feature of English political culture before the reforms of the 19th century. But how could defeated candidates protest the result of an election, and how were such disputes resolved?

Controverted elections: how disputed results used to be part and parcel of English political and parliamentary life
Prev
Next