As the UK general election campaign heats up, key issues such as the NHS, the economy and immigration dominate the headlines and the parties’ manifestos. However, some topics that matter to voters barely receive a mention in the campaign literature. Respondents to the BBC’s Your Voice, Your Vote initiative have highlighted issues such as litter and fly-tipping that are at epidemic levels according to Diane from Worcestershire, shockingly high levels of shoplifting, and the legalisation of assisted dying as areas of concern that have not been addressed by the major parties.
The Conservative Party, for example, plans to make fly-tipping an offence that would result in penalty points being added to driving licences. Labour has pledged to force fly-tippers to clean up their mess. Shoplifting is another issue raised by the public that is not addressed in the manifestos, with the exception of Labour’s proposal for a specific offence of assaults on shop workers.
Assisted dying is a topic that has divided voters, with the Green Party being the only one to suggest a change in the law is needed. The Labour Party and the Conservatives both describe it as a “matter of conscience” while the Liberal Democrats propose that it should go to a free vote in Parliament. Income tax thresholds also require attention, according to some respondents. The issue has been raised regularly in commentary and elsewhere, though this focus hasn’t translated into party manifestos.
Lynne from Kent and Anne from Lancashire have called for a referendum on the topic of legalising assisted dying, while Toni from Devon believes that hunting legislation should be strengthened. It is clear that some voters feel strongly about issues that are not currently being given the attention they deserve. While it is unlikely that these marginalised subjects will have a decisive impact on the outcome of the election, political parties should be aware that they are significant to some voters
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More