Due to lower political participation, the disproportional nature of First-Past-The-Post and the decreasing levels of trust in politics, it can be argued that the UK’s democracy is in crisis.

Political Participation- The 2024 general election saw the lowest turnout of 59.7% since 2001.  This is compared to a turnout of 77.7% in 1992, highlighting the significant decrease in political participation in elections. This decrease threatens democracy vitally, with decreased governmental mandates after elections due to weaker political participation in recent times. 

Disproportionality between votes-to-seat share - Due to the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system used in general elections, there is disproportionality in the votes-to-seat share. In the 2024 general election, Labour had 34% of the vote share but ended up with 63% of the seats. This results in the majority of the electorate not voting for the governing party due to the ‘winner takes all’ system, resulting in wasted votes. 

Policy failures deter the electorate from voting due to the scepticism that politicians will hardly deliver on their interests.

Limited Trust – In 2023, it was reported that trust in politicians reached its lowest point in 40 years. The lack of trust indicates that politicians are not representing democracy properly and questions the legitimacy of government. Policy failures deter the electorate from voting due to the scepticism that politicians will hardly deliver on their interests. 

Other forms of political participation, such as direct action, the existence of voter rights and universal franchise, along with strong representation of constituents in Parliament, suggest that UK democracy is not in crisis as one may imagine.

Direct Action - There has been a rise in multiple forms of participation, such as protesting and boycotting, especially through social media among the younger generations. 70% of Gen Z are involved in a social or political cause and are the most likely generation to boycott, which has been seen recently due to the conflicts in the Middle East with young people boycotting corporations that support Israel, like Starbucks. Such forms of direct action suggest that democracy still operates well in the UK by allowing the freedom of speech and expression to prevail. 

Voter Rights- The UK has universal franchise since the 1928 Equal Franchise Act, which gave women equal voting rights to women as men. Moreover, following the 1969 Representation of the People Act, all citizens over 18 have been allowed to vote since, which expanded the electorate. These laws ensure that all adult citizens can have a voice, which ensures a broader mandate across the electorate regardless of their identity. 

Successful constituency representation exists, as many MPs regularly raise local issues during Parliamentary debates.

Strong Constituency Representation- The FPTP system allows each constituency to link to an MP directly. Successful constituency representation exists, as many MPs regularly raise local issues during Parliamentary debates. An example would be Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans, who spoke out about the healthcare services in her community and demanded help. As we witness MPs speak for their constituents and address their concerns by bringing them to Parliament, it can be argued that democracy in the UK is working.