‘Neither of them know what they’re doing!’ ‘The country has gone mad!’ Voters have their say ahead of county council elections

A number of Lincolnshire residents say they aren’t happy with any party ahead of next week’s county council elections - with many citing a frustration with politics.

Just two votes separated the winner and loser in the Ermine & Cathedral ward in Lincoln when it was last fought.

Former Labour MP and councillor Karen Lee just managed to scrape out a victory over her Conservative opponent in 2021.

However, there was little enthusiasm for either of the biggest parties with one week until polls open, with many people saying they didn’t plan to vote or were looking at alternatives.

The ward covers the affluent Bailgate area around Lincoln Cathedral, as well as the Ermine estates.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to people around the shopping precinct on Woodhall Drive in Ermine East.

Wendy Genney, who described herself as a socialist, said: “I’ve voted ever since I was 18. But this time, I don’t think there’s any party or politician who’s worthy of my vote.

“I can’t justify voting for the sake of it. The elected should serve the electorate, I feel they’re just serving themselves.”

A man, who asked not to be named, said: “Voting is a waste of time. I’ve not bothered for 20 years – the Labour and Conservative governments have both been as bad as each other.

“Neither of them know what they’re doing. They’re just in it for themselves.”

Several people said they were considering voting Reform for the first time after being disappointed by the alternatives.

Another local, who didn’t want to be named, said: “It’s going to be Reform – the country needs it. I’m normally Labour but the national party as a whole is in a right state.”

Another said: ”I’m not racist in any way but the country has gone mad. It’s not just about immigrants, it’s about the winter fuel payments and everything else the country has lost.

“I used to vote by proxy in the army, so this is the first time I’ll do it in person – it will be Reform.”

Peter Wise said: “I usually vote Labour, but after they took away my winter fuel allowance, I might have to think about it. I don’t want Reform, so who else is there?”

Another local resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I’ve been a big Labour man all my life, but now I’m considering what to do. If I don’t vote for them, it will probably be the Green party.”

The elections for the Conservative-controlled county council will take place on Thursday, May 1, alongside the first Lincolnshire mayoral election.

Prof Andrew Defty, from the University of Lincoln’s politics department, previously predicted turnout would be between 15 and 30 per cent, saying: “Historically, turnout in local elections in the UK is at a much lower level than General Elections. We shouldn’t be surprised if the turnout next week is low.”

The full list of candidates in the Ermine & Cathedral race (in alphabetical order) are: James Brown – Liberal Democrat, Elizabeth Hughes – Reform UK, Tom Hulme – Conservative, Karen Elizabeth Lee – Labour, Charles William Shaw – Liberal Party, Valerie Anne Wilkinson – Green Party.