In 2017, a BBC camera crew told members of the public that Prime Minister Theresa May had called a snap general election. One woman, Brenda, responded with disgust: "You're joking! Not another one?" 

Brenda became the symbol of a wider view across the United Kingdom: "There's too much politics going on at the moment."

A significant number of people today agree. As Britain prepares for its first election in five years, there are many who plan not to vote.¹ 

Some simply do not care. Others feel they lack the knowledge to engage. In the 2017 election, only 39% of under-24s planned to vote compared to 68% of those aged 55-64. 

Many feel apathyLack of interest or enthusiasm. . In a recent Ipsos poll, 31% of respondents said they feel "unrepresented" by any major political party. And 47% feel there is no point getting involved in politics.

It is easy to feel that politics is not working and it is not a new sentiment. "If voting changed anything," wrote the anarchistSomeone who rebels against any authority. Emma Goldman, "they'd make it illegal." 

The UK currently faces numerous crises, including poor income growth, record NHS waiting times² and declining living standards. Many think that radical solutions are needed. 

Yet neither major UK party is offering bold ideas. LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. promises change. But Labour leader Keir Starmer has been called a "Diet ToryA member of the Conservative party. " and his shadow chancellorIn the UK, the member of the biggest political party not in government who follows the role of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Rachel Reeves has repeatedly promised to stick to government spending plans. 

Outside forces seem to be in the driver's seat. The climate crisis continues to grow. AI is advancing at rapid pace. The Covid-19 pandemic defied political control.

Others believe that politics is still immensely important. Former minister Malcolm Rifkind writes: "there must be a mechanism whereby people's rights and obligations, and wider laws, are changed to reflect society's shifting pressures".

Politics has had some big impacts in recent years. The 2016 UK referendumA direct vote by the population of a country on a particular law or issue. was driven by party politics.³ In the US, the legacy of Donald Trump's time in office overturned the landmark Roe v. WadeThis 1973 court case established a framework for legal abortions across the United States. But in 2022, the US Supreme Court reversed the decision, taking back a constitutional protection that had stood for decades. ruling.⁴ If a different party had been in control, these changes would not have happened.

Does it really make any difference?

Yes: "The ballot", said Abraham Lincoln, "is stronger than the bullet." Politicians may not always grasp all the issues they should, or have complete control, but they set a country's tone and direction.

No: The world is crying out for transformation. On climate alone, the world needs radical action. Yet politicians everywhere seem to offer incremental shifts. Vote - but do not expect anything great.

Or... Social, cultural, economic and demographic pressures change the world. Politicians react to these large, more powerful shifts. But the way in which they react can have enormous consequences.