Blick_UK Politics (9780198825555)_CH10

10.2 How it works 229

36

35

34

33

30

30

27

29

18– 24 25– 34 35– 44 45– 54 55– 64 65+

Male

Female

38

40

35

29

31

21

AB

C1

C2

DE

White

BME

FIGURE 10.6  Percentage of the population who feel getting involved in politics is effective, according to sex, age, social grade, and ethnicity Source: Hansard Society, 2019: 32 © Oxford University Press

about the idea of participation in politics as making in dif- ference, but they were the least likely to actually take part. Similarly, while BME people were more optimistic than white people about the value of involvement in politics, those in the BME group were less likely to vote. Female and male respondents were roughly similar on this count: 60 per cent and 62 per cent respectively (Hansard Society, 2019: 31). Difference in likelihood to vote can itself affect politics; it may be that groups that are more likely to vote gain more at- tention from politicians seeking their support, and that in turn those groups receive preferential treatment. We have seen that there is a general tendency that, the older a person is, the greater their reported chances of voting. This phenome- non could help explain a pattern that some observers have claimed exists for inequity between age groups in aspects

of public policy, with more policies seeming to favour old- er voters. A House of Lords Committee investigating this subject found that young people did not enjoy the same opportunities for improving living standards that members of previous generations had during their lives. It called for better monitoring of this problem by policy makers, and that greater fairness between age groups should influence their decision-making (House of Lords Select Committee on Intergenerational Fairness and Provision, 2019). The impact of identity politics on the UK comes from the country’s diverse profile, as we have seen. The lack of equality on the basis of different characteristics has led to the intro- duction of extensive bodies of legislation. Identity also affects political participation, as we have considered here. Next, we discuss some theoretical themes raised by identity in the UK.