Closing the gap: Parliament, representation and the working class

Article

Recent political scandals in Westminster have once again put the issue of trust in politicians at the top of the agenda.

While MPs have become more representative in terms of gender, ethnicity and sexuality in recent years, there is a large and growing ‘representation gap’ on class.

This ‘class ceiling’ is not driven by discrimination against working class candidates by voters, but by a lack of supply of candidates by parties. Representation in politics matters because it has an impact on the policy decisions taken and the voting behaviour of citizens.

In this report we argue that political parties and government should take action to close the ‘representation gap’.

Related items

  1. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, River Thames and Westminster Bridge

    Taxing choices: Taking the public’s temperature ahead of the budget

    The stakes for a government are rarely higher than at a budget. Every chancellor has dealt with this differently. Ken Clarke would draft his budget speech with cigars and whisky, Gordon Brown pored over every word in what officials called…
  2. Scottish parliament building at Holyrood and Calton Hill, Edinburgh

    Great expectations: Rejuvenating the national debate in Scotland

    Fresh IPPR Scotland polling shows that politicians must raise their game if next year’s election is a to be serious debate about the challenges facing Scotland and potential solutions. 
  3. A Black man in a bright orange high vis jacket and hard hat stands in the middle of a road holding a sign that says 'STOP - WORKS'

    Unfinished business: Redressing inequality in British policy and Black lives

    As conversations about race and equality continue to evolve, Black History Month remains a powerful invitation to pause, reflect, and recommit to progress.