Disgruntled, Disillusioned and Disengaged: Public Attitudes to Politics in Britain Today

The Hansard Societys Audit of Political Engagement is the only annual health check on our democratic system. Now in its ninth year, each Audit measures the opolitical pulse' of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion across Great Britain with regard to the political system. This year, it finds that coalition politics does not appear to have been good for public engagement. It shows that the publics growing sense of indifference to politics, as highlighted in last years Audit, has hardened into something more serious as public attitudes become more negative. A number of the trends have declined, dramatically so in some instances, suggesting a public that is turning away from national politics.