‘We don’t deserve this’: Rochdale voters left cold by byelection chaos

Disappointment in the candidates is palpable in the town, where people feel let down and neglected by the main parties

Byelections are traditionally a chance for voters to lodge a protest vote. But when the people of Rochdale go to the polls on Thursday, they have barely anyone to protest against.

The Labour and Green parties have ditched their candidates. The Conservative was abroad on a long-planned family holiday the week before polling day. The Lib Dem remains, but pulled out of the most high-profile political event, a local BBC radio debate.