Yahoo News 'Dismal'... 'a total mess'... 'a load of waffle': A sense of despair in a Greater Manchester town
In Bolton West - amid sporadic showers and sunny spells - the Manchester Evening News spoke to voters about the upcoming general election - and the issues they're concerned about as the crunch poll looms.
"The National Health Service has gone pot, the waiting list is sky-high for appointments," Lilian, 78, says. "And now, they're building more houses... we don't need that. There are other things that need doing before that.
"There are enough houses. I'm not saying we don't need them, but there are other things that need doing before that."
READ MORE: 'It feels like you're fighting a losing battle... nothing ever changes'
Margaret, 78, says: "The National Health Service is a total mess at the moment. Locally, we're getting a lot of houses built, but getting no extra roads. The traffic around the beehive roundabout which I use all the time to get out of my road, is horrendous at times. It can take half an hour to get from one end of Horwich to another. It's just dismal."
Asked to describe Rishi Sunak in a few words, John, 73 says: "Mr Apologetic. He's had to apologise for everything he's done - Partygate, to the one that's happened last week with the beaches at Brittany."
PM Mr Sunak left the 80th anniversary D-Day commemoration in Normandy early. Facing backlash, he issued an apology.
John, on Labour leader Keir Starmer, adds: "Mr Flip-Flop, that's what they keep calling him, don't they?"
Shoppers were also keen to share their concerns at the prospect of conscription. Kane, 18 said, "[The] forced military service mandatory thing - I think it's a load of waffle. Should be taken out really. It's not our choice, it's just forced."
A mum-of-two, who asked not to be named, said: "That's really scary. I wouldn't want my children to be forced into something they wouldn't want to do."
We are leading a country-wide, video-led mass vox pop approach dubbed '5000 Voices' in covering the upcoming general election 2024.
M.E.N. reporters are now travelling across the region to canvass local opinion on the issues of the day. From boroughs to wards in Greater Manchester we will not be asking how people will vote, but their views on issues that will determine how they vote.
You can watch the full answers and questions from the media above.
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