EAST Lancashire MP Gordon Prentice has called for an investigation into why so few people are interested in politics.
The Pendle Labour backbencher is a member of the all party House of Commons public administration select committee which this week expressed concern over the crisis in public participation in government.
It is alarmed at the turnout in June's general election of just 59 per cent -- the lowest since 1918.
The committee wants a democracy commission to find out why public interest and participation in democracy is so low and to tackle the problem of widespread "civic disengagement."
Mr Prentice says all political parties must tackle the issue urgently. He added: "Most of us take democracy for granted, but it needs to be constantly tended and renewed."
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