'I'm dreading the next six weeks': Anger and apathy at the shopping park as General Election campaign gets underway

They had to battle the conditions as they grabbed parcels from their backseat and stuffed bags of shopping in their boot. As the wind blew and the rain came pouring down, the weather seemed to match the mood amongst shoppers after the starting gun was fired on the snap General Election campaign.

Rishi Sunak yesterday announced the country would go to the polls on July 4 saying that 'now is the moment for Britain to choose its future.' Yet for those going about their business at Elk Mill shopping park in Oldham, there was little excitement about what is to come.

Many among the host of voters the Manchester Evening News spoke to following yesterday's announcement, expressed anger at the Tories running of the country over the past 14 years.

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However, they seemed almost equally unenthused about the prospect of a government led by Sir Keir Starmer. Several saying they are 'dreading' the thought of six weeks of punch-and-Judy politics and rolling 24-hour news coverage.

Dave Tuft, 60, said: "I think he's hoping with the current state of the interest rates, he can use that as an excuse. I've got a feeling he's trying to pull the wool over people's eyes. The cynic in me thinks it is a snidey and typically political move. But I'm not holding a great deal of confidence in the Labour Party to be truthful. I cannot see them making any major improvement.

"I haven't got a lot of faith in any politicians in this country to be honest. We don't have any strong leaders or anyone who is capable of seeing beyond their