Northumberland Labour is urging people to exercise their democratic rights and make sure they vote in upcoming elections.

Deputy Leader Liz Simpson said: “The right to vote was hard fought for and every single vote makes a difference. We are fortunate to live in a democracy where people can exercise their views through the ballot box and I would urge everyone to respect that hard-won fight and use their vote.

“Voting should not just be left for things like referendums where, frankly, they have nothing but divide the country, but they should be part of everyone’s duty to be a citizen.

“I speak to people who are disillusioned with politicians of all sides and, while I’ve got a lot of sympathy for this, the way to change things is to vote in the people who best represent your views.

“Of course, the other way is to get involved and stand for election. We have fantastic and committed councillors who work hard for the people they serve but we would welcome more people of all ages and backgrounds.