Has the general malaise of disillusionment with politicians, post- Partygate, ever been more stark? Perhaps not, but in the Rochdale council ward where less than a quarter of people eligible bothered to cast their vote at the May 5 local elections, the reason for such apathy is not just down to what's been going on behind the door at 10 Downing Street.
The 22.92 percent voter turnout figure - extremely low, even by local election standards - in North Heywood seems chiefly down to a feeling that in the great scheme of things, their little town on the periphery of Rochdale is 'neglected, overlooked and under resourced'. "They've given up," said newsagent Bharath Budia, 28.
"The people who come in my shop say they couldn't be bothered to vote because Heywood gets nothing from Rochdale. They say they only hear from the local politicians when it's time for the elections.
