“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”
Winston S. Churchill
No doubt you all woke up this morning salivating at the prospect of the local election results.
Here in Bradford there are many parts that would vote – if they could be bothered – for a red rosette-clad wheely-bin…so long as somebody told them to.
If that makes me appear blue-blooded I promise you I think the whole lot of them are a shower; but at least I try to make my own mind up.
A story this week did little to convince me that a combination of voter apathy and general ignorance would lead to anything but the same old ending here in Bradford.
Almost a quarter of Bradford residents are unaware of new rules that will require voters to show photo ID in today’s local elections.
Ironically that’s about the usual voter turnout and probably the same figure that applies to the proportion of votes where voters have no idea who they voted for…or even if they actually did.
Now – read this slowly – you cannot blame the council here…you really cannot. People have had ample time to either dig out some ID or register. That so many have not is just tough luck.
If it was a free Big Mac just watch those numbers fall.
The Hope Not Hate figures show that nationally 25-34-year-olds were the least likely age group to know about the new rules with 36 per cent saying they were unaware.
This is supposed to be one of the most information-led generations we have. All the figures prove is that they simply cannot be bothered not that they have been let down by the state as implied by the usual bed-wetters.
Meanwhile, although voter ID is aimed at combatting voter fraud, the level of voter understanding of the issues in certain parts remains, shall we say, patchy.
On the numerous readers’ comments attached to the article, one stood out.
Been in an area of Bradford today where a car is going round with a loud speaker telling people to vote number 4!!
So good to see democracy is alive and well in Bradford.
Wacky Races
One day last week here are the headline stories from the local paper – see here.
Further arrests made after man killed in horror crash in Bradford.
‘Stupid and selfish’ banned Bradford driver reached 117mph in stolen car.
Major route now open after huge delays because of overturned car.
Reports two men ran off after crash involving overturned vehicle.
Bradford district man banned after being clocked at 110mph on motorway.
Leave a Reply