'I spoke to people in Bloxwich about their views on the General Election and there was an awful lot of apathy'

The weather flip flopped from sunny spells to rain showers but the message was mostly consistent – people in the area don’t believe their vote will make a difference on Thursday, July 4.

The candidates for the Walsall and Bloxwich constituency are Sadat Hussain (Green), Shannon Lloyd (Conservative), Aftab Nawaz (Independent), Patrick Stillman (Liberal Democrats), Valerie Vaz (Labour) and Elaine Williams (Reform UK).

The town and surrounding areas used to be part of the Walsall North seat but that no longer exists, following Boundary Commission changes, and now forms part of the new Walsall and Bloxwich seat.

When I approached a number of people busy going about their business on the High Street, many laughed or waved me away saying they were not interested.

Many of those who offered a little bit more insight said they wouldn’t be voting as they felt it didn’t matter who occupied Number 10 Downing Street as nothing would change for them.

A man who was feeding pigeons pointed at his feathered friends and said: “You get more sense out of them. Whoever you vote for, it’s a waste of time.”

A Jehovah’s Witness said he wouldn’t be voting. He smiled and added: “I’ve already chosen and cast my vote” as he pointed to the sky.

An elderly lady said: “I’m already fed up of hearing about it. Everyday you put the television on it’s all about the election.

“I’ll tell you something, the Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak) and (Sir Keir) Starmer are promising to do this, promising to do that but they’ll never do it. It’s just mouth and only saying these things to get in power.

“Will I be voting? You must be joking! I’ve heard it all before, they keep promising things and then never do it.

“I bet quite a few people agree with me. It’ll serve them right if neither of them get in power.”

Another said: “Who is there to vote for? What is the point? They are all out for themselves.”

A woman in her 20s said: “I voted for the first time in 2015 and I can’t believe I’m going to be voting in my fourth General Election already. I’m not even 30.

“The NHS and housing young people can afford are issues that are important to me. But I’m not sure we’ll get it whoever gets in.”

But Mark Rowley, who said immigration was a huge issue for him, made an impassioned defence of voting and urged people to use their voices on July 4.

He said: “For years, I did vote for Labour because I’m a working man. But last time I voted Conservative.

“This year, I can’t vote Labour or Conservative. Keir Starmer is arrogant and as for Rishi Sunak – leaving the D-Day commemorations early was disgraceful. I’ll probably vote Reform UK.

“I love voting. It’s our right – there is no point moaning if you are not going to vote. I go away soon and won’t be here on July 4 so will be using my postal vote.

“People make the time to do other things but they won’t spend a few minutes casting their vote? There is no excuse.”