The number of vegans — that's people who omit meat, fish, eggs and dairy from their diet — in the UK has increased from 150,000 in 2006 to 542,000 in 2016. Whilst the figure is good news for the once obscure dietary movement, it actually represents less than 1% of the population.
New survey shows the number of vegans in Britain has risen by 360% in 10 years! This is a phenomenal achievement… https://t.co/bc5yHUVtUh
— Northern Vegan Fest (@Northveganfest) May 18, 2016
That even less people in the UK are members of either the Conservative or Labour parties — than choose not to eat cheese — undoubtedly raises concerns over political apathy and disengagement, between the UK Government and the vast majority of the electorate.
Research by the Hansard Society suggests a rise in political engagement and party support in the UK, largely amongst younger voters, although it attributes that to what it calls "the election effect," predicting that interest is likely to subside in the subsequent non-election years.
Too expensive or political apathy? RT @AdamBienkov Membership of UK political parties falls to all time lows: pic.twitter.com/QH9r8Pylaw
— Kev Campbell-Wright (@kevupnorth) February 24, 2013
According to the same research, just 59% of Brits say they are certain to vote in the upcoming EU referendum, and only 38% feel knowledgeable about the European Union.
Only a third of the UK public believe that the country's Government works well, with those living furthest from the Parliament in London being the least satisfied.
There are currently around 380,000 members of the UK Labour Party and 150,000 in the Conservative party — in total, that's 12,000 less than the total number of British vegans.
