Leeds South: The low turnout constituency where just 42% voted

“I was always going to vote,” George said. “I have done since I was 18. My dad told me I had to back then!”

George said he could understand why there was apathy.

“I think it’s on everyone’s minds that they’re not going to vote,” he said. “Just because of everything that’s happened since Brexit and since Covid. Boris Johnson has a lot [to answer for].”

Beyond Leeds South, only the Manchester Rusholme constituency, with 40%, had a lower turnout at Thursday’s election.

But even in areas where voter turnout was higher, declining engagement is still a problem.

Richmond Park in west London, where nearly 76% of those eligible voted, had its lowest turnout at any General Election since 2005.

It was the same story in Sheffield Hallam, which with 71% had the highest turnout among any Yorkshire constituency.

With ballot papers counted and the removal vans completing the turnaround at Downing Street, nationwide campaigning will now take a back seat.

But the process of re-engaging an increasingly disenfranchised public with national politics is a challenge MPs are likely to be grappling with for a while yet.

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