Join the authors of the 2017 Audit of Political Engagement as they present their findings alongside a panel of leading commentators, and explore how one of the most consequential acts of democratic decision-making ever seen in this country has shaped levels of political engagement across the UK.
- As we go into an unexpected general election how politically engaged are the British public?
- Do they feel interested in and knowledgeable about politics? Are they more satisfied with our system of governing?
- Voter turnout in the EU referendum was high. Are there any other areas where people’s political behaviour is changing?
- Beyond voter turnout, has there been a positive ‘referendum effect’ on public attitudes to politics and Parliament of the kind witnessed after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014?
- And in just a few weeks we will be electing 650 MPs to Parliament - but what do the British public want from our MPs, and how well do they think Parliament has carried out its core functions in recent years?
This event is free to attend. Teas, coffee and light refreshments will be served from 8:45am.
Speakers
Tim Bale
Professor of Politics, Queen Mary, University of London
Alexandra Runswick
Director, Unlock Democracy
Ruth Fox
Director, Hansard Society, and co-author of the 2017 Audit report
Joel Blackwell
Senior Researcher, Hansard Society, and co-author of the 2017 Audit report
Chair: Penny Young
Director, Participation, and Librarian, House of Commons
About the Audit of Political Engagement
The Hansard Society’s Audit of Political Engagement is the only annual health check on British democracy. Now in its 14th year, the study measures the ‘political pulse’ of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion with regard to politics and the political process. Each Audit report presents the findings from a public opinion poll survey, providing detailed commentary on a range of measures that have been chosen as key indicators of political engagement. These indictors enable us to chronicle responses year-on-year and track the direction and magnitude of change since the Audit was first published in 2004.
The Audit of Political Engagement is supported by the House of Commons.
Enjoy reading this? Please consider sharing it
Latest
Building on the ‘Brady amendment’: how can Parliament scrutinise Coronavirus regulations more effectively?
A large body of Coronavirus-related Statutory Instruments have been subject to limited parliamentary scrutiny. Amid growing concern that Parliament is being sidelined by ministers, this briefing explores the procedural obstacles to effective scrutiny of the Covid-19 regulations, and how these might be addressed
What to look out for in Parliament in Autumn 2020
Politics in Autumn 2020 will continue to be dominated by Coronavirus and the negotiations with the EU, as the end of the post-Brexit transition period approaches on 31 December. But what will this mean for parliamentary business in the coming months, and what scope will there be to tackle other issues? We pick 15 things to look out for.
How is the Petitions Committee representing the public amid the procedural and practical restrictions of the Covid crisis?
Catherine McKinnell MP, Chair of the House of Commons Petitions Committee, sets out how the Covid-19 crisis has significantly increased the public’s use of e-petitions while limiting the House’s ability to debate them. This has prompted the Committee to innovate, to ensure that petitioners’ voices are heard during the crisis.
Demands to recall the House of Commons over this summer’s exams fiasco reinforce the case for taking the process out of government hands
In a crisis the House of Commons is hamstrung if it is in recess, for MPs are not masters of their own House. While any MP can make representations to the government and the House of Commons Speaker to request a recall, under Standing Orders only a formal request from ministers to the Speaker can actually trigger one.
Parliaments and Coronavirus (collection)
The Coronavirus pandemic has presented parliaments with significant technical, procedural and political challenges, at Westminster and around the world. This page brings together our Covid-19 content, covering the UK Parliament’s adaptation to the crisis, UK Coronavirus-related Statutory Instruments, and the responses of other legislatures around the world.
Why MPs should back the Djanogly amendments to the Trade Bill on parliamentary scrutiny of trade agreements
MPs should take the opportunity to show the government and their constituents that they want to have more say on free trade agreements than they did when the UK was inside the EU.