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Title

Hansard Society audit, 2019: most think the system is rigged for the rich and powerful

Date
8 April 2019
Relevant topic(s)
Democracy and participationDirect and representative democracy

What happened?

The same 2019 Hansard Society Audit of Political Engagement found that most people thought the system of governing worked for the rich and powerful, and satisfaction with it fell to the lowest level on record.

  • 63% of the public thought the system of government is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful; the Hansard Society's own summary put it at six in ten.
  • Only one in four people were satisfied with the system of governing, the lowest level on record in the Audit.
  • 72% said the system of governing needs 'quite a lot' or 'a great deal' of improvement, up five points in a year and the highest level in the 15-year Audit series.
  • 54% said Britain 'needs a strong leader who is willing to break the rules'.
  • Only 34% had confidence in MPs to act in the public interest, against 74% for the military and 69% for judges.

Why is it politically significant?

The figures support the argument that representative politics becomes 'government by politicians', serving a narrow elite. They also show that disillusion with representation does not always lead to support for more direct democracy: a majority wanted a strong leader instead.

How to use

Which arguments does it support?

Representative politics serves a narrow elite

Reasoning
Most people think the system favours the rich and powerful.
Evidence
63% thought the system is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful.
How it supports the argument
Only one in four were satisfied with the system of governing.

Reform of representative democracy is needed

Reasoning
Dissatisfaction with how the UK is governed is at a high.
Evidence
72% said the system needs quite a lot or a great deal of improvement.
How it supports the argument
This was the highest level in the 15-year Audit series.

Which counterarguments exist?

Other explanations

Disillusion is not a demand for direct democracy

54% wanted a strong leader willing to break the rules, which points towards stronger leadership rather than more decisions taken by the people.

Limits of the evidence

A crisis of the moment

The survey was taken during the Brexit deadlock in Parliament, which may have deepened frustration with the system at that time.

Concepts and connections

Sources and verification

Event8 April 2019
Added to bank11 November 2026
Last checked11 November 2026
Next check due11 May 2027
  1. 2
    Publisher Hansard SocietyPublished 8 April 2019Type ResearchChecked 4 November 2026
    Opened
  2. 1
    Publisher Left Foot ForwardPublished 16 May 2019Type NewsChecked 4 November 2026
    Opened
  3. 3
    Publisher Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)Published not statedType OfficialChecked 4 November 2026
    Opened

About this example

Is it still current?

Concluded

The development has ended or been reversed, but remains useful evidence.

Why it is in the bank

Survey evidence for the case for direct democracy, and against representation.

  • ✓Relevance to the specification
  • ✓Strength and reliability of the evidence
  • ✓Importance to a wider political debate
  • ✓Usefulness in evaluative essays
  • ✓Connections to other topics
  • ✓Sufficiently current
  • ✓Adds something new to the bank

Editorial status

Approved

Signed off for students.

Origin: AI draft (Claude) · Reviewer: Editor

Every fact on this page has been checked against original sources.