Leader – When Hackney elects, don’t bottle the ballot

Not long ago Russell Brand was encouraging us all not to vote. More recently, the BBC treated us to Brenda from Bristol’s musings on being told an election was imminent. “Not another one!” she wailed.

These attitudes are at best silly and at worst irresponsible. Voting should not be seen as a personal inconvenience or shameful compromising of ideals – as the Brendas and Brands, respectively, seem to think or have thought. It is a civic duty, to be exercised thoughtfully.

Politics matters. Not long ago the received wisdom was that young people were all apathetic. Now those that are eligible are rushing to get on the electoral register.

In Hackney, Labour and its candidates have seemingly unassailable majorities, but the convulsions rupturing British politics mean no party can any longer take any groups of voters for granted. Concepts that formerly helped politicians predict voting patterns and cultivate a base no longer hold sway in the way they once did.

Even if Hackney is not exactly home to swing seats, our votes will help determine the parties’ share of the vote nationally – a key barometer of where the people are now on Brexit. And if the winner of the contests here seems a foregone conclusion, watch the race for second place. It could end up being as revealing.

Democracy should not be taken for granted and elections are a time for all to make their views heard – through the ballot box and all other lawful means.