"We are all very angry" with politicians, but can't be ar$ed to vote.

[Gromit]

At a time when politicians are said to be at their least popular and given the chance to vote (in the elections) and send a message to the main parties what we really think of them, what do the British public do....

Nothing. Turnout could be less than 30%.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-119092 2/Desperately-low-turnout-Disillusioned-voters -stay-away-polling-stations.html

When the results are announced and Labour do poor, and the Tories maybe not as well as expected, I can already hear the excuse from the parties "...but it was a very low turnout".

Are we really not that bothered about cheating MPs, loss of jobs, the bank bailouts?

Or are we too lazy and let them off the hook?

[stewey]

Gromit, I don't live in the UK; however, I think that the vast majority of people who live in 'democratic' countries just think that one party is the same as the other: what is the difference between alligators and crocodiles?

[jno]

the problem may be that people conclude they're all the same so there's no point in voting for any of them. There are certainly a lot of ABers saying this. It sounds like nonsense to me: plenty of MPs have behaved honourably, and anyway none of them was up for election today.

But yes, the British find it easier to whinge than to vote (except for Big Brother, which coincidentally started tonight). MPs may well conclude that the public don't really care what they've been up to, despite all their pious outrage. And they may be right.

[Gromit]

Where do you live stewey?

The thing is, people are very angry, but have missed a great opportunity to tell the politicians.

[DebsyDoo]

I think that people are just of the general opinion that is a case of "what can we do/what difference does it make " they're all in it for themselves at the end of the day - they all promise you the earth & give you nowt !
They all "shaft you over" - the only difference being that the Conservatives do it with more style !

[Gromit]

But they are only in that privileged position because we vote them.

[DebsyDoo]

I think yo've just answered your own question ! (?)

[jno]

My MP seems not to have claimed anything at all for a second home, and will therefore retain my vote when an election comes round. It will be interesting, when that happy day comes, to see if voting figures for incumbents do inversely reflect the amount of expenses they have claimed.

[DebsyDoo]

You've !

[DebsyDoo]

That you KNOW of JNO !
Other than that - it's just greed !!

[Gromit]

I do not tar all policians with the same brush, however, my MP has flipped and made money out of us taxpayers. It will be interesting if he will be punished at the next election

[paraffin]

Responding en route to me "skratchir"!

Let's not get too carried away with the low turn out for what are local and European elections. It's traditional, which is not making an excuse, rather stating a fact, and it seems also as if even the past month's revelations of the scandalous behaviour of some MPs has not been enough to shake some voters out of their torpid indifference when it comes to the ballot box. Unbelievably!

I voted but am still very uneasy at putting my crosses (must learn to write one of these years!) against names I'm not totally au fait with, especially regarding the European vote. How do we know that some of these people won't try to dip sticky fingers into the honey pot?

The next GE will be the acid test for all parties, not just for Brown whose lieutenants are deserting him like rats from a sinking ship, but also for Cameron who, for all his bluster, has yet to tell us what his real policies are, if he has any!

My view is that people are rightly bemused because of the expenses shenanigans but don't know what to do for the best. After all, none of the miscreants has actually given up being an MP, correct? All that has happened is that some have either stood down or stated that they won't stand at the next election. Which means in my book that not one has yet been punished for their wrongdoings.

And this is what's caused so much disillusionment amongst voters: we're still expected to vote for representatives of the very people who have stabbed us in the back: it's like turkeys voting for Christmas!!

Time for bed, said Zebidee.

[claymore]

Gromit ,where I live voting is compulsory even in local council elections, and if you don`t vote and don`t have a good reason you cop a fine. How would Brits. feel about compulsory voting?

[naomi24]

I think many people are simply apathetic where politics are concerned. Others see a refusal to vote as some sort of protest, but it's a futile one. The only way to convey to politicians our anger, our disdain, our disappointment, or whatever else it is we may be feeling, is through the ballot box. You may not get the result you hope for, but if you don't vote, then you've made no effort to change the things you're unhappy with, and therefore you have no right to complain when the people others elect on your behalf fail you.

[ludwig]

You said it - people can't be ar$ed. When questioned they'll try to claim they're taking some kind of righteously angry stance and withholding their vote in protest until a 'none of the above' box is allowed on the form.
The truth is they're not interested enough to be bothered to walk half a mile to the polling station, especially when it's raining or Coronation Street's on the telly.

[Quinlad]

You don't need to vote to have a right to complain.

Opting out of a vote doesn't opt you out of obeying the laws or paying taxes or being governed. Everyone has the right to express their view whether or not they voted.

Moreover, low voter turnout is a bellwether that shows how those standing for election are regarded. It shows how successfuly political parties have engaged the electorate. And spoiled ballot papers aren't the same as stayaway voters. It's important that politicians can gauge how much of the country buys into whatever platform they're proposing.

[flip_flop]

Since I reached the majority 20 (gulp) years ago, this is the first time I haven't voted.

I understand and accept all the arguements - if you don't vote you can't moan etc...-, but, do you know what, I couldn't care less if I tried.

My condemnation is the very fact that I didn't vote.

I am utterly disillusioned with the whole lot of them. Our legislators, the people we look to to govern us, have bent us over a barrel and royally ****** us up the arse.

From that hateful woman Smith, who, with a straight face, tried to tell us her sister's back bedroom was her main residence, that other hateful woman Blears, wandering up and down Downing Street waving her cheque, Harman, telling us (like Smith, with a straight face) that it isn't the politicians fault its the 'system's' fault, Darling, the accountant of the country stealing from us...........they just completely and utterly stink, the whole stinking thieving lot of 'em.

If I hear 'I've acted within the rules' or any variant thereof again, I think I will be compelled to kill - which, presumably, will be OK if I apologise afterwards.

[jno]

DebsyDoo, the Telegraph has published my MP's expenses (in their 'list of saints'), so I guess I know as much about them as about anyone's.

[rov1200]

The mandate for any party is too wide for any individual to make an informed decision. Whats the point in voting in Tory or Labour if you agree with 50% of the policies of each.
Also if you live in a Tory area and the MPs majority is too large to be overtaken your vote is effectively wasted.

[Gromit]

rov1200

This was about the low turnout in the local/European elections, and your MPs majority is irrelevant.

Only the Gromit Party will 100% represent my views, but that doesn't exit, so of the remaining, I are supposed to pick a party that nearest fits my own beliefs.

Are you saying that no one on the 3 foot long voting paper lit rov1200's fire?

[naomi24]

rov, you say if you live in an area where the regular majority is too large to be overtaken by your vote, it isn't worth voting, but it is. Since low turn-outs are often blamed on apathy rather than dissent, it's important to make continually ruling majorities aware of exactly how many people disagree with them, and the only way you can really show your opposition is to go to the ballot box and vote for another party. Perhaps a clear indication that they have more opponents than they realised might even make them pull their socks up!