Elections Expert Warns Of "Marked Downturn" In Turnout Due To Voter Apathy

Lord Robert Hayward has warned that there could be a “marked downturn” in turnout at the next general election, as parties choose more local candidates in an attempt to fend off voter apathy towards Westminster.

The Tory peer and elections expert told PoliticsHome that he believes voter numbers could be down in May’s local elections as well as at the general election, but that political parties are going some way to try to appeal to the electorate on a local level as people have been turned off by national politics. 

“I do believe sadly that chances are that there will be a marked downturn in turnout at the next general election, but I think it will also be shown at the local elections," he explained.

“In local elections the turnout is always low, but I think it may well be even lower than usual in six weeks' time.”

There are concerns, particularly among Conservative campaigners, about the impact that voter apathy could have in certain seats when it comes to the General Election. 

Door-knockers in some areas believe that while they are detecting some instances of voters directly switching their vote from Tory in 2019 to Labour, Liberal Democrat or Reform this time around, far more frequently they are seeing voters who would want to back the Conservatives, but plan to stay home on polling day. 

Hayward recognises the sense of apathy among the Conservative voter base, but also thinks that support for Labour is “weak”. 

“What we have now is undecided Conservatives," he continued. "A number of them will vote, whether they vote Conservative or Labour or Reform or whatever we don’t know yet. 

“But there is also a very clear sign in the polls that there is this large group for undecided ex-Conservatives but support for Keir Starmer and