Westminster's Verdict
A comprehensive analysis of the 2015 United Kingdom general election, exploring the shifting political landscape and the unexpected Conservative majority.
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Election Overview
Key Details
The 2015 United Kingdom general election was held on Thursday, 7 May 2015, to elect 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons. It marked the first election under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, setting the polling day for 7 May 2015.
Electoral Context
The election followed a period of coalition government between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats. Opinion polls and commentators widely predicted a hung parliament, similar to the 2010 outcome, leading to intense speculation about potential coalition arrangements.
Voter Turnout
A total of 46,354,197 citizens were registered to vote. The turnout for the election was 30,697,525, representing 66.4% of the electorate, an increase of 1.3 percentage points from the previous election.
Major Political Parties
Led by Prime Minister David Cameron, the Conservative Party contested 647 seats. They aimed to secure an overall majority, campaigning on a platform of economic stability and fiscal responsibility, often highlighting the risks of a Labour-SNP coalition.
Led by Ed Miliband, the Labour Party contested 631 seats. Their campaign focused on issues like the economy and public services, but they struggled to overcome predictions of a hung parliament and faced significant challenges in Scotland.
The Scottish National Party (SNP), led by Nicola Sturgeon, experienced a significant surge in support following the 2014 independence referendum. They contested all 59 Scottish constituencies, becoming the third-largest party in the House of Commons.
The Liberal Democrats, led by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, faced substantial losses after their participation in the coalition government. They contested 631 seats but saw their representation drastically reduced.
The UK Independence Party (UKIP), led by Nigel Farage, secured a significant portion of the popular vote, displacing the Liberal Democrats as the third-placed party. However, they won only one seat, failing to capitalize on their vote share.
The Green Party of England and Wales, led by Natalie Bennett, achieved its highest vote share to date, though it secured only one seat.
Campaign Dynamics
Key Issues
The campaign was dominated by discussions on the economy, government finance, and the potential for a hung parliament. The Conservatives emphasized fiscal responsibility and warned against a Labour-SNP coalition, while Labour focused on public services and economic fairness. Constitutional matters, including the UK's relationship with the EU and devolution, also played significant roles.
Campaign Strategies
The Conservatives targeted Liberal Democrat seats and Labour marginals, employing a strategy that proved effective in securing their majority. Labour's campaign featured prominent elements like Ed Miliband's "EdStone" and Harriet Harman's "Woman to Woman" tour. The SNP's surge post-referendum significantly impacted the Scottish political landscape.
Media Influence
Traditional media, particularly television, remained highly influential, with debates and news coverage shaping public opinion. Newspapers exhibited strong partisanship, with most favouring the Conservatives and adopting a critical stance towards Labour and the SNP. The "anti-SNP" narrative became a dominant theme in much of the English press.
Opinion Polling & Projections
Pre-Election Trends
Throughout much of the 2010-2015 Parliament, Labour generally held a lead in opinion polls. However, the gap narrowed significantly in the months leading up to the election, with polls indicating a tight race and a high probability of a hung parliament. Support for smaller parties like the SNP, Greens, and UKIP also saw notable shifts.
Projection Discrepancies
Despite widespread predictions of a hung parliament, most polling models underestimated the Conservative Party's final vote share and seat count. The first-past-the-post system meant that even small shifts in vote share could translate into significant seat changes, contributing to the surprise outcome.
Election Results
Final Outcome
The Conservative Party secured an unexpected majority of ten seats, winning 330 seats overall. This outcome defied most pre-election predictions and allowed David Cameron to form a majority government without a coalition partner.
Party Performance
Labour experienced their worst result since 1987, returning 232 MPs. The Liberal Democrats suffered heavy losses, losing 49 of their 57 seats. The SNP's significant surge saw them win 56 out of 59 Scottish seats, becoming the third-largest party.
Seat Distribution
The final seat count was: Conservatives 330, Labour 232, SNP 56, Liberal Democrats 8, Democratic Unionist Party 8, Sinn Fรฉin 4, Plaid Cymru 3, SDLP 3, Green 1, Alliance 1, UKIP 1. This represented a significant shift in the parliamentary composition.
Television Debates
Format and Participants
The election featured several televised debates. A seven-way debate on ITV included leaders from Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, Greens, SNP, and Plaid Cymru. Other debates involved smaller groups of parties, with leaders like David Cameron and Nick Clegg participating in a BBC Question Time special.
Impact and Controversy
The debates focused heavily on the potential for a hung parliament and coalition scenarios. Concerns were raised about the media's focus on "horse race journalism" over policy issues. The absence of some leaders from certain debates also drew criticism.
Media Endorsements
Newspaper Support
Major national newspapers largely endorsed the Conservative Party, with many also encouraging tactical voting for the Liberal Democrats or against Labour. The Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, The Sun, and The Times all backed the Conservatives, while The Guardian and Daily Mirror endorsed Labour.
Media Coverage Analysis
Broadcast vs. Print
While social media played a role, television coverage, particularly the leaders' debates, was found to be the most influential factor for the public. Newspapers demonstrated strong partisanship, with a significant bias towards the Conservatives and critical coverage of Labour and other opposition parties.
Partisan Bias
Research indicated that print media coverage was overwhelmingly pro-Conservative and anti-Labour, with less attention given to policy areas that might have been challenging for the Conservatives. The SNP also faced considerable negative coverage in English newspapers.
Election Timetable
Key Dates
The election campaign officially began with the dissolution of Parliament on 30 March 2015. Key deadlines included the filing of nomination papers and registration for postal votes by 2 May. Election day was 7 May 2015, with the new Parliament convening on 18 May.
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References
References
- 66 parties are grouped together as 'other parties'. None of those parties contested more than 2 constituencies, or received more than 300 votes
- This column shows the change in vote share percentage from the 2010 general election to the 2015 general election. It does not account for by-elections.
- The UUP did not run itself in 2010; instead, it ran candidates under the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists banner.
- After nominations had closed and ballot papers were printed, two UKIP candidates were suspended from the party for offensive comments.
- In the 20th century so few Parliaments lasted the full five-year term that some commentators regarded four years as being a 'full term', thus calling the 1979รขยย83 Parliament a 'full term'
- Joyce was a member of the Labour Party until his resignation from the party in 2012 in the aftermath of an assault.
- UK 2015 general election results in full The Guardian (retrieved 5 May 2024)
- D. Wring and S. Ward, 'Exit Velocity: The Media Election' (2015) in Britain Votes
- DUP on 8.7; Sinn Fรยฉin on 4.5; SDLP on 2.7; Independent Unionist on 1; Speaker on 1; UUP on 0.9; Respect on 0.5
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not political advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional political analysis or consultation. Always refer to official sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific insights into political events and their implications.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.