The General Election is less than two weeks away, but as I walk around my local area, I cannot see much evidence that there has been a campaign going on for a month now.
There have, in every other election, been numerous boards in gardens expressing the households voting intentions. Today, you could count the number of boards in gardens on the digits of one fifth of a hand. Posters in windows are few and far between. I haven’t seen a single canvasser from any party, or any evidence (a hand delivered leaflet perhaps) thereof.
Does anyone want my vote?
Our household has had three campaign communications: Two were from Andy MacDonald (Labour), one addressed directly, and one as a general mail drop. The other was from Keir Starmer, setting out his five first steps, and endorsing Andy MacDonald.
How incredibly sad that only one candidate appears to want my, and my neighbours’ votes? Only the Labour Party and MacDonald want to tell me why I should vote for them. The others are absent and I really don’t understand why.
Do they want to be elected?
If so, then where are they?
Do they already believe it’s a ‘done deal’?
If that’s what they think then why not let MacDonald just go unopposed?
Taking people for granted
A very close friend, who is very different to me when it comes to having an interest in politics, always votes. However, if a candidate cannot be bothered to give them any information, then they will not be getting their vote. Who am I to argue with that premise? Sounds reasonable to me.
Are political parties just assuming that they will vote for them just because their logo is a particular colour?
Trust and confidence in politicians is low
A very recent report states that trust and confidence in government is at its lowest ebb. Is my local area a confirmation of this?I believe that it is a significant part of this apparent apathy in this part of Middlesbrough West constituency.
A significant reason that this study comes to this conclusion is that politicians will say anything to get elected, even if last week their opinion was the direct opposite of today’s.
An example of this is, Matt Vickers (Conservative candidate for Stockton West) Some people in this new constituency are going to vote for him because he is in favour of a new solar farm. However, if you do a quick look, you will see that he led a debate about the solar farm, even though it wasn’t currently in his constituency to oppose it in forthright terms. Talk about a chameleon changing their colour, this is more akin to a reptile shedding its skin to display a new self.
I am also confident that another reason is due to the toxicity of politics that has been evident on Teesside over the last number of years. You only need to have a quick look at this site to see how pathetic, childish and disgusting some of our local elected officials.
First past the post
I would also argue that our arcane way of electing an MP and government (First past the post) is disenfranchising whole swathes of potential voters. They see a vote in a lot of constituencies as a waste of time. What is the point of voting for X, when you already know that Y is going to be elected.
In conclusion, get out and vote. Vote for whoever you want, but vote. Do some research on your candidates, on their party.
Vote.
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