Has the general malaise of disillusionment with politicians, post- Partygate, ever been more stark? Perhaps not, but in the Rochdale council ward where less than a quarter of people eligible bothered to cast their vote at the May 5 local elections, the reason for such apathy is not just down to what's been going on behind the door at 10 Downing Street.
The 22.92 percent voter turnout figure - extremely low, even by local election standards - in North Heywood seems chiefly down to a feeling that in the great scheme of things, their little town on the periphery of Rochdale is 'neglected, overlooked and under resourced'. "They've given up," said newsagent Bharath Budia, 28.
"The people who come in my shop say they couldn't be bothered to vote because Heywood gets nothing from Rochdale. They say they only hear from the local politicians when it's time for the elections.
"You can't blame them for feeling like that. My shop is in Heywood North, but I don't live here, but it's very sad to hear what my customers have to say."
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Good pals Charlotte Connolly, 81, and Daphne Todd, 82, were out in Heywood town centre shopping. Both are Conservatives, and didn't vote because there were no Tory candidates put up in North Heywood. "I've only ever Labour-voted once," said Charlotte.
"That was when I voted for Tony Blair, but within 10 months of doing that, I regretted it. All we get from Rochdale are hanging baskets and council tax going through the roof."
Daphne shared her friend's views but also couldn't understand why there were no Conservative candidates fielded on May 5. "If there was more choice, we would've voted," she said. "There were only Labour candidates and Lib Dems. There weren't event any independent options."
One woman who did not wish to be named said: "All these politicians are the same, but the choices we had in Heywood were very limited. I didn't vote because I'm fed up with the same old options that make absolutely no difference."
Her pal said: "Rochdale gets everything while Heywood gets nothing. It was much better years ago (pre-1974 local government reorganisation when Rochdale and Heywood became part of Greater Manchester) when Heywood had its own town hall and made important decisions and spent money here."
Another man said: "It's like this all over the country. You've got people who wanted to stay in the EU - 'Remoaners' I call them - and all this Partygate nonsense. No wonder people are switched off voting. I didn't vote because I'm disgusted by the behaviour of those politicians in Downing Street, even though I know that's nothing to do with the local situation."
Those views contrasted sharply with those of Heywood resident Fred Smith, 63. "I voted," he said. "And I always do.
"I strongly believe in local politics. How can you complain about what's happening in your area if you don't vote? I don't understand why people are so apathetic."
Usman Hazrboz, 29, runs the Dixy Chicken restaurant and takeaway on Market Street, Heywood. His business has been plagued by teenagers running riot in the town centre.
"There isn't enough being done to prevent anti-social behaviour in this town," he said. "No-one seems to care, so I'm not surprised that they don't vote. It's true that people seem to have given up."
Jean Robinson, 72, said she lost faith in politics when news of the Downing Street parties broke. "While they were having parties, my mother was dying," she said. "At her funeral we could only have 10 people.
"I think what happened in Downing Street is appalling, and I've lost all faith in politicians. They promise this and promise that, but they do nothing."
Her views were shared by Anthony Leather, 62. "They're all bent," he said. "I've given up believing that any politicians can make any difference to what's going in North Heywood. You can't blame anyone for not voting, in my book."
Meanwhile, North Heywood councillor Peter Rush admitted that the views expressed on the streets as well as the 22.92pc turn out in May were a blow to local democracy.
Coun Rush, who is also chair of the Heywood Township Committee, said: "The turnout was very disappointing. In fact, it was as low as it has ever been."
But he said that he and his fellow councillors had 'worked very hard' in the run-up to the local elections. "I and my colleagues delivered 5,000 leaflets and canvassed tirelessly house to house and that gave me a lot of confidence."
He said the low turnout might have been partly due to Covid-19 and elements of 'complacency'. And Coun Rush argued that a new master plan for Heywood had been given the green light and much investment was planned in the town.
In response to residents' protestations that Heywood gets overshadowed by Rochdale, he said: "There is free parking in Heywood, but not in Rochdale. Heywood Sports Village and the Phoenix Centre for health are outstanding facilities and I urge the town residents to appreciate them."
