Gender and the Vote in Britain: Beyond the Gender Gap?

Rosie Campbell

The 2005 British general election witnessed unprecedented media interest in the parties’ attempts to “woo” women voters. There was much speculation about a fracturing relationship between women and Tony Blair, the term “let-down” woman was used by the press to describe how the relationship had allegedly gone sour. Gender and voting in Britain provides comprehensive analysis of the 1992-2005 British general elections and tests whether there were, in fact, sex differences in leadership evaluations, party of vote and political attitudes.

Related Subjects

• European and UK Politics
• Women's Studies

About the Author

Rosie Campbell is lecturer in research methods at the School of Politics and Sociology, Birkbeck College, University of London. She researches gender and representation, participation and voting behaviour. She is currently involved in the British Representation Study 2005, a study of MPs and candidates their backgrounds, attitudes and experiences. Previous publications include “Gender, Ideology and Issue Preference: Is there such a Thing as a Political Women’s interest in Britain?” BJPIR 6:20-46, “Winning Women’s Votes? The Incremental Track to Equality” with Joni Lovenduski in Parliamentary Affairs October 2005 and the electoral commission report “Gender and Political Participation” with Pippa Norris and Joni Lovenduski published in 2004.

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