Anger at UK MPs behind drop in voter turnout

A recent opinion poll indicates that nearly 50 percent of British people feel angry towards politics and politicians, resulting in a drop in voter turnout.

According to the Guardian/ICM poll, anger and fury at high-level political figures for failing to keep vows, was the leading cause of a drop in public political engagement.

In the poll, participants were asked to describe in a single word “how or what you instinctively feel,” in general about politics and politicians.

About 47 percent of the respondents said they were “angry” with their country’s politics and politicians while 25 percent felt “bored” with the Westminster Parliament.

Only 16 percent said they felt “respectful” towards politicians and 2 percent were “inspired” by their performance.

The poll was conducted online from December 20 to 22, 2013 and involved 2023 adults.

In November, a poll conducted by TNS-BRMB research agency for the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) suggested that 40 percent of British voters felt “disconnected” from politics and were considering not voting for any party.

Recent studies show that only a fifth of the British public trust parliamentarians.