Why isn’t there a participation crisis in the UK?

National statistics mask significant variation in participation in our political system.
In the 2015 general election, people aged over 65 were almost twice as likely to vote than people under 24. Only 43% of 18-24-year olds voted, compared with 78% of people aged 65 and over. While turnout was as low as 51.3% in the constituency of Stoke-On-Trent Central, it was as high as 81.9% in Dunbarton East.
Although only 57% of working class and non-working voters participated, over 75%
Similarly, the 2015 Audit of Political Engagement found that while only 46% of 18-24-year olds and 46% of those in social classes DE agreed that Parliament is ‘essential to our democracy’, this rose to 70% for those aged 55-64, and 81% for those in social groups AB.

While formal political participation has declined, pressure groups have become increasingly popular.
Numerous trade unions, like the National Union of Teachers, or the British Medical Association, have staged strikes and marches over the issues of pay cuts and pension reforms.
Many pressure groups also encourage members to participate through more formal political channels. Many government consultations receive significant numbers of responses from individuals and groups.
The 2016 BBC Charter Review Public Consultation, received 192,000 responses, not including petitions, and the 2012 consultation on same sex marriage received 228,000 responses, plus 19 petitions.
From 2011 to 2015, there were 150 e-petitions that collected over 10,000 signatures, receiving an official response from the government, and 37 e-petitions that reached over 100,000 signatures, with 31 going on to be debated in the House of Commons.

Low turnout has yet to lead to produce an actual ‘crisis’.
While general election turnout is lower than the highs of the 70s, it has been steadily increasing – 61.4% of the electorate participated in 2005, this increased to 65.1% in 2010, and then 66.1% in 2015.
It is possible that this trend will continue as political parties maintain their efforts to restore participation rates to their former levels.
Low turnout does not necessarily result from a lack of political engagement – some might not vote because they are content with the current government.
Many others might argue that the real crisis is to do with our electoral system – for politically active people living in safe seats, it could arguably make more sense to abstain and participate in other ways.
Importantly, non-voters still generally recognise the government’s legitimacy, even if they believe the election, and the main political parties, to be deeply flawed.
They recognise that the government won a free and fair election, even if they consider the rules to be imperfect.