Still dividing the electorate? Brexit and voter evaluation of candidates

Abstract

ABSTRACT Voters use various cues to make their decision. We examine the impact of the cue of candidate position on Brexit. Brexit is still on the agenda and we explore how this topic continues to divide the electorate. We test this by assessing the general preference of candidates among respondents in a series of surveys providing variation in the information regarding candidates’ positions on Brexit and party identification. In contrast to existing literature, we find strong evidence that candidates can utilise either their own previous voting behaviour or that of their opponent to provide an electoral advantage. Leave supporting candidates are highly rated by leave voters and poorly rated by remain voters, and vice versa for remain candidates, although it is dependent on the party label of the candidate. The issue of Brexit has a strong impact, but partisanship is mostly of equal importance for the respondents.