The forgotten political generation

PA 81/2010 The election campaign may be under way but new research from The University of Nottingham shows that the parties are in danger of immediately writing off at least four million young working class female voters. The lead author of the report: 'Lambrini Lady — the forgotten political generation' — is Professor Steven Fielding, Director of the University of Nottingham's Centre for British Politics. "It may sound like a cliché," says Professor Fielding, "but the fact is Britain's political class is now, more than ever, dominated by men, the middle class, the middle aged and the elderly. "The figures speak for themselves: Despite 'Blair's Babes', only 20 per cent of MPs elected in 2005 were women, and while they have helped introduce some positive changes for all women, these changes can be fairly described as modest." The report is co-authored by Rob Ford of the University of Manchester and Matthew Goodwin who will be joining The University of Nottingham in the Autumn. It shows the problem is caused by a mixture of disengagement on the part of the 'Lambrini Ladies' and lack of genuine interest in such voters' concerns from the parties. The idea that specific social groups hold the outcome of a general election in their hands isn't new. In the 1980s 'Essex Man' was said to be vital to Conservative success; in 1997 'Mondeo Man' and 'Worcester Woman' were seen as important to New Labour; in 2001 the 'Pebbledash People' were (unsuccessfully) targeted by the Conservatives; and in 2005 Tony Blair turned his sights toward 'School Gate Mum'.