Sunderland voters turn back on local elections in snub to political parties
Written by Kieron Gilmour on 5th May 2022
Up to a staggering 80% of people in Sunderland have no interest in voting in today’s local council elections, a SparkSunderland survey has shown.
With the current cost of living crisis biting hard across the country, and the Government under more scrutiny than ever before amid the Covid “Partygate” revelations, voters are set to deliver a huge snub to all parties at the ballot box today.
And there is every chance that the turn-out at the polls in Sunderland will be significantly lower than the paltry 32.8% who voted in the last local government elections in 2019.
Of 30 people asked by SparkSunderland whether they had voted or were planning to vote today, 25 confirmed they would not be visiting a voting station.
The snub highlights the problems of mass disengagement with all mainstream UK political parties amid the recession, soaring inflation and Government scandals/
Lewis Cairns, 20, from Gateshead said: “Neither of the two main parties really fit my interest, so I find casting a vote difficult.”
Brad Lowery, 22, from Gateshead said: “I don’t really take an interest in any local politics. The general election is the only one that bothers me’/”
The local election results will be released later tonight, with 25 seats up for grabs across Sunderland City Council.
