University of Sussex
Browse
1/1
2 files

Oh, Jeremy Corbyn! Why did Labour Party membership soar after the 2015 general election?

Version 2 2023-06-12, 07:28
Version 1 2023-06-09, 15:36
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 07:28 authored by Paul Whiteley, Paul WebbPaul Webb, Monica Poletti, Tim Bale
This article investigates the remarkable surge in individual membership of the Labour Party after the general election of May 2015, particularly after Jeremy Corbyn was officially nominated as a candidate for the leadership in June of that year. Using both British Election Study and Party Members Project data, we explain the surge by focussing on the attitudinal, ideological and demographic characteristics of the members themselves. Findings suggest that, along with support for the leader and yearning for a new style of politics, feelings of relative deprivation played a significant part: many ‘left-behind’ voters (some well-educated, some less so) joined Labour for the first time when a candidate with a clearly radical profile appeared on the leadership ballot. Anti-capitalist and left-wing values mattered too, particularly for those former members who decided to return to the party.

Funding

Party Members in the United Kingdom; G1772; ESRC-ECONOMIC & SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL; POLD1A6S - ES/M007537/1

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

The British Journal Of Politics And International Relations

ISSN

1369-1481

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Issue

1

Volume

21

Page range

80-98

Department affiliated with

  • Politics Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex European Institute Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-10-23

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-10-23

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-10-22

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC