Apathy. It’s the biggest enemy of local democracy along with - some in Trafford would argue - photo ID. The food hall in Altrincham’s thriving Charter Market in the centre of perhaps the borough’s most affluent towns is bustling with potential voters.
In there, the ‘we con’t care’ gold medal goes to one couple, both IT specialists, [mid-30s I’d say] when asked if they’re intending to vote. The man looks me straight in the eye: “We don’t vote,” he said. “We’re not interested. We’ve got busy jobs, children, busy lives. We work long hours. It [local politics] just doesn’t matter to us. We’re happy to be apathetic.”
So I say: “OK, hope you a have a nice day,” and walk away. At this point, a well-known quote from the Anglo-Irish statesman, economist and philosopher Edmund Burke, and MP from the 18th century, springs to mind.
