Landmark study suggests that the public's disenchantment with politics is at an all time high with only 14 per cent agreeing with crucial parliamentary votes in the last yearThe full extent of disillusionment with UK politics is laid bare in a bombshell poll that found only 1 per cent of voters would agree all the decisions made by MPs in the last year.
The study of 2,000 UK voters, conducted by Note My Vote - a new website aimed at strengthening parliamentary democracy and encouraging greater public involvement in politics by allowing constituents to tell their MP how they should vote on House of Commons Bills - also revealed that only 25 per cent of people could name their own MP compared with 44 per cent* in 2006.
Publication of the Note My Vote report coincides with a petition, calling for a vote of no confidence in Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, which has already surpassed 250,000 signatures. It indicates that many other MPs are also suffering a growing backlash against them for ignoring the public's voice.
Dissatisfaction over Hunt's actions within the junior doctors debate added to Parliament's overwhelming vote for air strikes in Syria has triggered an anti-MP backlash - dubbed the 'Hunt effect' - which is radically changing the way Brits feel about their elected politicians.
The NMV poll also showed that only one in four (25 per cent) of adults admit that they would have voted with Hunt on the doctors' contracts. Two in three, (66 per cent) would have voted against the military strikes in Syria, a direct rebuff of the MPs decision.
This has led more than two thirds (69 per cent) of Brits confessing to feeling that they have no say in on-going politics, showing that fewer and fewer people are convinced about the value of voting in a General Election.
The results of the Note My Vote study indicated that less than a third (30 per cent) of people are satisfied with the way MPs are generally doing their job.
An additional finding revealed that only one in five (22 per cent) of British voters were aware how many MPs there are in Parliament and just 60 per cent could identify more than two names within the Cabinet.
Despite overall negative sentiment towards MPs, some of the in-depth survey's results bucked the trend and revealed a desire for closer engagement:
- 51 per cent of the public say they would like to be more involved in individual decision-making
- 68 per cent want their MP to listen to their voices on votes
- 46 per cent have signed a petition for a Cause in the last twelve months
Mike Simpson, founder of Note My Vote said today:
"The results of our study have provided pretty conclusive proof that people want politicians to actively listen to their needs. Despite increased numbers voting in general elections, most people do not trust the political system because they feel divorced from the critical decisions that are made on their behalf.
"Above all they complain that, for four or five years after a Member of Parliament is elected, there is an almost total disconnect between the MPs and constituents who put them there. Between general elections the people have absolutely no chance to influence the decisions that parliament makes.
"We need a nation of people who care about every vote in Parliament and by using Note My Vote they can see how their MP votes, giving MPs accountability and granting influence to the electorate."
Note My Vote, launched this month, provides the public with the opportunity to have a greater say on issues that may affect them. This is achieved by conducting polls on both legislative matters and breaking news items so the public can inform MPs about their views before they pass judgment in the House of Commons.
In addition to being forwarded to MPs, the results of these votes are published on the website and are sent to members via email, including, how their MP voted in the Commons
For more information and for free registration as a voting member on Note My Vote visit www.notemyvote.co.uk.
