First of all, it is our family that shapes our first political preferences and attitude towards power and role in the society. Depending on how open our family is. Some of the parents may be quite tolerant with guy relationships, for example, some of they may not be so familiar with it. And here, the first political thought can be created like following (or not) the New Labour party that “likes its conservative predecessors” and their traditional family values.Secondly, our friends and colleagues can become our pressure groups, they may influence the way we dress, our musical taste or even attitude towards sex. Then there is obviously our education, through which the hidden message dictates where the children belong in the society (history about Kings and capitalist values- providing training foe work at schools as an “investment good”). There is also The Arts (print, Bible, educated work force) and Advertising (free market capitalism- “if everyone buys and sells wisely, all will be well”), playing a crucial role in our lives. The Advertising industry is trying to get to our heads and shape our desires as well as it is directly involved into politics as the Parties are investing vast amounts into selling themselves to the voters.
The Religion is a very significant element in our lives. Thanks to the English Reformation Church and the State were formally connected as the Church of England headed by the monarch ( Bishops sit in the House of Lords; monarch is crowded in the Westminster Abby). In 1980-90s Britain was under the influence of the Anglican Church as the “Conservative Party at Prayer” whose leaders were attacking neoliberal policies (Brits against support for US plans to attack Iraq).“Religion socialises people into accepting inequality and purveyed patriarchal values.” However, nowadays Britain has a little room for religion. “Faith in science replaced faith in God and Sunday shopping has replaced churchgoing.” Religion stands for non-capitalist values (9/11 attacks were seen as attacks on western materialism).Finally, the press, Britain is quite a small country thus, most of the newspapers are national. They are divided into quality press- broadsheets and the working class-tabloids. Broadsheets readers seam to be best informed about politics, whereas, tabloid fans are not so much politically acknowledged. Tabloids, however, are at the moment most popular amongst both classes.
Referance: Kingdom J. (2003) Government and Politics in Britain
Winchester University Journalism Course People and Politics
