Grey vote set to be blue at General Election?

But catch them during a tea break, bowl them a few questions about the General Election, and these other colours come to the fore.

The ‘grey vote’ might be decisive on June 8. Over-65s are four times more likely to vote than 18-24 year-olds.

“We’re the ones who vote, aren’t we?” agrees Jenny Lowther. “That’s what they say.”

She is here, on Carlisle’s Viaduct Estate Road, with five friends. All live in the Carlisle constituency.

A quick survey reveals they all intend to vote. The good news for John Stevenson – Carlisle’s Conservative MP since 2010 who is seeking re-election – is that five of the six are planning to vote for him.

Opinion polls tip the Tories to comfortably beat Labour. Jeremy Corbyn is widely portrayed in the media as unpopular, a view the six bowlers endorse.

“Where will this money come from?” asks Alan Metcalfe of Labour’s manifesto. “Have they got a secret mine somewhere?”

Even the table’s solitary Labour voter Sid Gill says: “I just don’t grasp what he’s trying to do. He’s too left wing.”

Do these pensioners have sympathy for young people in this time of student loans, soaring property prices and stagnating wages?

“In some respects, yes,” says Jenny. “When I first got married my first house cost us £2,800. But my husband was earning only £800 a year. If you compare that to now, relatively they’re really not more expensive. We set our priorities differently. We didn’t go on two-week holidays or go out for meals four times a week. We didn’t buy designer clothes.”

Mick Satterthwaite Cynicism with politicians of all colours is widespread here. Mick Satterthwaite says: “How can MPs give themselves about a 10 per cent pay rise and normal workers get one-and-a-half or two per cent? They’re all for themselves I think.”

“I think we’ve all fallen out with politicians, whatever party they are,” adds Alan Metcalfe.

Graham Thomson of Gretna is sitting out the session with an injury, which explains his dark blue top. Politically he’s yellow, for the SNP.

Gretna is in the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency. Two years ago this was narrowly held by Conservative David Mundell. He is Scotland’s only Tory MP following the SNP landslide north of the border.

“I will vote SNP,” says Graham. “But if it ever comes to leaving the UK in another referendum I would vote against it. I voted against it in the last referendum.

“I was Labour ’til about 10 years ago then I changed to SNP. If I was Labour I would think about voting for someone else because of Jeremy Corbyn. I think he changes his mind. He’s been on marches against Trident but he’s still allowing it to be used. You can’t be sitting on the fence with that. You’re either one way or the other.”

And Theresa May? “I think she’s a very strong woman. I think the Conservatives will get in. I think Labour will be just about wiped out.”

He adds: “All the politicians are the same. You can’t get a yes or no answer out of them. If they would just be square with people I think they would get on a lot better.”

Labour doesn't work for us

Irene and Shaun Murray Shaun and Irene Murray, of Devon Street in Barrow have always voted Labour. But both face a tough choice on June 8. Do they stick with the party or put their ‘X’ elsewhere?

Shaun says: “I’ve been a Labour voter all my life. I’m afraid I can’t vote for them this time. It is a hard decision. This is the first time I haven’t voted for them. But they’re sending out the wrong messages. When you listen to Jeremy Corbyn talking... Barrow is a nuclear town. It depends on the nuclear industry.

“I just don’t think he’s the right man. I think there could be a breakaway party if they don’t get rid of him, or if he’s not going to fall on his sword.”

Immigration is Shaun’s main concern. “It’s not being vetted properly. There’s too many coming in. Too many criminals coming in. We have enough of our own. I think the Conservative Party is the only party that really seems like they’re going to do something about it. There’s so much crime. It needs a big influx of police.”

He is in two minds about some Tory proposals, such as means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment. “I wouldn’t mind if I didn’t get the Winter Fuel Payment if it was going to go somewhere worthwhile. And the NHS needs safeguarding. It’s being overloaded with people who aren’t paying into it.”

Irene also believes there is too much immigration. And she shares her husband’s concern about the NHS.

“I just don’t trust the Tories with it. [Health Secretary] Jeremy Hunt hasn’t done a great job up to now.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve voted Labour all my life. In general I think the Labour policies are better. John Woodcock seems to do a decent job. But I don’t like Jeremy Corbyn. I don’t want to see him as prime minister.

“I don’t think he’s up to the job. I think it will go right to the last minute. It’s the first time I’ve had this dilemma.”

For Mary Irwin, a former Labour Mayor of Barrow, things are much simpler.

“The Labour Party – that’s where I’ll vote. I think the press are giving Jeremy Corbyn a bad name. It’s uncalled for. If you look at his policies he’s got the best for working-class people. I do think he stands a chance. I hope I’m right.

“If people look into what Theresa May’s putting into place, they should be worried.”

Mary wants to see the triple-lock, which guarantees that the state pension will rise by the highest of wage growth, inflation or 2.5 per cent, remain.

Labour says it would keep it. The Conservatives have refused to commit to the policy.

“There are a lot of issues,” says Mary. “I think the NHS is a big issue, having just come out of hospital myself and seen the wonderful care.

“I’m back at home and my daughter is looking after me. Pensioners are finding it hard if they haven’t got a relative to look after them.”