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 feel they lack the knowledge to engage. In the 2017 election, 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, 47% of respondents felt there is no point getting involved in politics.

It is easy to feel that politics is not working, and this is not a new sentiment. The UK currently faces numerous crises: poor income growth, record NHS waiting times,² declining living standards. Many think drastic solutions are needed. 

Yet neither major UK party is offering bold ideas. LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. promises change, but its 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 speed. The Covid-19 pandemic defied political control.

Some believe that politics is still hugely important. It is the way that countries adapt to larger changes. 

The 2016 UK referendumA direct vote by the population of a country on a particular law or issue. was driven by party politics³ and in the US, the legacy of Donald Trump's time in office overturned the 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, but they set a country's tone and direction.

No: The world is crying out for big changes. 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 population pressures change the world. Politicians react to these large, more powerful shifts. But the way in which they react can have huge effects.