Last month the British Social Attitudes Survey was released prompting some interesting, seemingly contradictory headlines.   Society in the UK, once hugely hung up about sex, is becoming more liberal in its views about gay rights and co-habitation.  While traditional views about welfare claimants and the unemployed has stiffened as has the appetite for further investment in public services.   Thirteen years of New Labour appears to have left a legacy of a society more relaxed in social attitudes but with less sympathy for traditional left causes.  An interesting irony!
 

The survey’s findings are bound to shape the election manifestos of all parties as they position themselves around values of tolerance coupled with a strong sense of fairness.
 

But these insights into society today reveal one depressing fact – fewer people have a sense of duty to vote, just over 50% of the population indicating a widespread prevailing apathy.  And that number falls to just 40% with the under 35s.  Cause for concern?  I think so.
 

The expenses scandal confirmed to many long-held but often foundless views about politicians as large self-serving.  No doubt, the backdrop of that scandal has shaped the thinking of the respondents of this latest survey.   But this survey largely confirms what many of us know from experience; there are many people, often the young, who are completely disengaged politically.
 

And a General Election looms large in which politicians and their parties will slug it out to try and capture popular support.  Unlike many elections before, I sense a distinct lack of interest in this coming campaign.   There’s a general sense of tiredness in the current government and that change is ripe.  But there’s little evidence of a groundswell of support for an incoming Conservative administration, let alone LibDem.  This is all overlaid with a deep suspicion of politicians and a break-down of trust between the electorate and those who are elected.
 

I see the May General Election returning a political party to power but on a seriously reduced public vote and skewed by our first past the post system.  Consequently, the legitimacy of that government will be undermined from Day 1.    It will require a hell of a campaign to win back trust and instil a sense of faith and pride in our democratic institutions from that the very low base.  So I really do mean it when I say, whichever party is elected to office, I really do want to see them succeed.