GeofCox (@[email protected])

@[email protected] Yes - I agree with a lot of that. I think the demographics disengaging most are the young and the working-class - the left's natural constituencies - it's this that lets Reform come through with what is really the support of a very small proportion of the electorate. I agree part of the problem is that lots of young and also lots of very hard-pressed working class people feel that no party represents them - Labour because it's obviously doing nothing to change their lot, and the Greens because environmental issues and, I think, identity politics, are perceived as less relevant than pressing economic oppression - unmanageable rents, precarious employment, waiting lists, lack of opportunities for their kids, etc... But it's also the simple fact that voting really doesn't change much - and politicians and the media are always reinforcing this. UK local government really has little power now, partly because powers have been taken away (eg. in education), and partly because national austerity policies have constrained local budgets. But even at national level, the messages coming from both politicians and media are consistently that governments can't do anything much because of 'the markets', 'capital flight'. etc... Politics, the media and commentariat are full of hand-wringing about the rise of the extreme right, and worries about the future of democracy - but at the same time keep telling everybody we're helpless.