[MargaretR]

I will start by saying - "I did not vote"

Politics is such a dirty backbiting scenario that I prefer not to ally myself with any of it.
I realise that people need to vote, in order for democracy to continue, but I prefer to observe 'from the wings' the grossly imperfect performance of the acting politicians.
By witholding my vote I withdraw my consent to be governed by persons who do not seek to improve the quality of life of the major part of our population . It may appear selfish of me (by not voting) to be able to say - 'nothing I did increased homelessness - nothing I did caused destruction of the NHS - nothing I did caused nor increased child neglect/abuse' etc etc.

I will admit to some pleasure that socialism seems to be making a comeback, since that is the political system which cares most for those incapable of caring for themselves. Any society which doesn't cannot be regarded as civilised.