Age divided the nation more than any election since the 1970s says study as Lord Heseltine warns Tories their electoral base is dying off
Research by Ipsos Mori suggests Labour's increased vote share was caused by a boost in backing by the under-44s
AGE DIVIDED the nation at this month’s General Election more than in any other vote since the 1970s, a study has found.
Research by Ipsos Mori suggests Labour's increased vote share was caused by a boost in backing by the under-44s, with the biggest swing among 25 to 34-year-olds.
This coincided with a swing to the Conservatives among the over-55s, resulting in the biggest age gap since Ipsos Mori's records began in 1979.
The polling firm found that turnout among young people was up on the 2015 election, matching the EU referendum.
The research comes as the former Conservative deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine is warning his party its electoral base is dying off at a rate of 2 per cent a year.
The Tory grandee said the Conservatives need to work hard to "restore its electoral fortunes" after Theresa May lost her Commons majority.
He told Sky News: "One thing which is just worth having in mind, and you can't do anything about it, 2% of the older part of the electorate die every year - they are 70% Conservative.
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"Another 2% come in at the young end of the electorate - they are about 70% Labour.
“That's about 2% change each year. There isn't that much time."
The swing in age groups came at the same time as a reversal in traditional voting patterns between different classes.
There was a swing among the middle classes to Labour, while working classes moved to the Conservatives, with both parties achieving record vote shares in these groups.
Education was another clear divide in voting patterns with the Conservatives opening a large 17-point lead among those with no qualifications.
It had a smaller seven-point lead among those educated to below degree level, but among graduates Labour had a 15-point lead.
- Ipsos Mori interviewed 7,505 UK adults between April 21 and June 7