Working class people have been 'left behind' by political parties - and that's why they are apathetic about politics.
That was one view at a public meeting organised by Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis to discuss why people are disillusioned with politics.
Around 23 people, including two Barnsley councillors, attended the meeting in Barnsley town hall on Tuesday night.
Mr Jarvis understood to an extent why people were cynical - especially in the light of the expenses scandal - but said his office worked 'extremely hard' to make sure Barnsley people's voices were heard in Westminster.
Others said politicians were in a 'Westminster bubble' and completely out of touch.
There was a lack of faith in manifestos and people could no longer tell the difference between the main parties.
Resident Dave Cherry said working conditions had gone downhill because of anti-trade union laws.
He said: "There's nothing to threaten the established order, and we have left the working classes behind."
Michael O' Hara, from Royston, said: "The London elite, journalists, opinion formers, they do exactly what they please and ignore us. Meetings and opinion polls are just window dressing."
Others said parliamentary debates were only about point scoring rather than real issues - like the NHS and the 'bedroom tax' - and politicians behaved without any professionalism or respect.
One resident said: "I have put the TV on and watched the House of Commons talk about something I think is important and there are six people there and two of them are asleep."
Mr Jarvis said people formed judgements from TV and in newspapers but this only reflected a fraction of political work.
He said: "I'm shadow culture minister and have worked for example on tourism with government in constructive debates. That won't make it on to TV because it's not as newsworthy as a slanging match between Ed Miliband and David Cameron."
