So who really does the donkey work in ‘multi-speed membership parties’? Comparing the election campaign activity of party members and party supporters

• DOI: 10.1016/j.electstud.2017.02.002
• Publication Date: 2017-02-21T07:18:26Z
• Authors: Paul Webb; Monica Poletti; Tim Bale
• Keywords: Independence

One of the traditional functions party members is to campaign on behalf their at general elections. However, they are not only people who volunteer for job. In context growing literature 'multi-speed membership' parties, it important ask what non-members do parties support. This paper examines how different actors contributed electoral campaigns six 2015 UK General Election, using survey data covering Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, United Kingdom Independence, Scottish Nationalist, and Green but also voters identified themselves as being close one those did formally belong them. As well exploring much work during campaigns, we whether two groups choose activities differently motivated. We find that, individual level, more than non-member supporters, that this especially true intensive forms activity. constituency political attitudes influence levels activity in similar ways supporters. no consistent impact from demographic factors or ideological incongruence. At aggregate estimate done by supporters may match even exceed members.