‘I’ve never voted, I don’t see the point!’ - Blackheath voters have their say on upcoming election

In the year that Sandwell Council celebrates its golden anniversary, and what will probably be the last local elections before the next general election, it is Labour, as it has done for all but one of the borough’s 50-year existence, that holds the keys to power.

So where better to start I thought than in Blackheath, where the current council leader Kerrie Carmichael is putting the seat she has held for the last 12 years on the line next Thursday.

She defends the right to represent the Blackheath ward three years on from a 330-vote in a two-horse race against Tory candidate Greg Allman.

However, this time around there are five names on the ballot with Reform’s Mike Cooper, Aldo Mussi for the Green Party and independent candidate Craig Taylor standing in addition to Bob Dunn for the Conservatives.

But while I was prepared to talk about council tax rises, housing, social care, schools, public transport and jobs with the people of Blackheath, what I found more than anything was disillusionment and disinterest.

While a handful were quick to nail their respective colours to the mast, with a few firmly voting Conservative and other Labour ‘diehards’ not even contemplating switching allegiance, the overwhelming majority had little faith that their votes would change anything.

More people told me they had either not voted in years, never voted or would not be voting this year than those who said they would be voting.

And if one word was mentioned more than any other, it was ignored.

Delivery driver Jay, 38, who lives in Rowley Regis, said: “I’ve never voted to be honest, can’t see the point.

“I think they’re all the same and they don’t listen to you anyway.

"The council I’ve got no time for, it just doesn’t seem to get any better, just worse.

"Just what do you do? I don’t think it makes a world of difference.

“I pay my council tax but I don’t know where it goes or what it does. You don’t see it around here.”

From the shops and cafes to even the jacket potato stands, there were not many willing to say they would be voting.

I was told West Brom’s play-off push and fishing were hotter topics of conversation than local, or national, politics among most customers.

The biggest whiff of opposition on Sandwell Council is the Conservatives, with, after a few defections and resignations this year, now stands at a mere eight, half of which will be on the line on May 2. Labour enjoys a huge majority, and always has done.

That is not to say that the people of Blackheath hold Labour responsible for the borough’s issues, with many laying the blame at the door of the Conservative government.

But while some are wishing for a sea change nationally, others want to see a similar move locally.

Dave Nicholls, 58, said: “Where I think a lot of people are saying that we really need to change the national government, maybe that’s something we need around here but that’s just not going to happen any time soon.

“It’s Labour all the way and there’s not much we can do about it.”

A perceived betrayal over the Brexit by the mainstream political parties, Sandwell resoundingly voted to leave the European Union in 2016, loomed large over many of the people I spoke to, which left them less than enthusiastic to cast a vote next Thursday.

While the state of national politics leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many, this indifference and apathy does seem to translate to the local level.

Sharon Riley, 54, who admitted she would be working most of polling day and unlikely to vote, said: “What honestly would change? I can’t think of anything.

“I can’t remember the last time I voted, I know you should but I don’t. I don’t think it’s worth voting for.”