always

"For more than 70 years, China has always relied on self-reliance and hard work for development… it has never relied on anyone's gifts and is unafraid of any unreasonable suppression," he said this month.

Turnout in local elections that do not coincide with a general election are almost always shrivelled.

"In previous elections, even though we may have been an afterthought and tacked on the end of the sentences, like we always are, at least we were mentioned. Now it's complete silence," she said.

Mr Matthews said they always spent the build-up "peeking at the weather forecast", adding: "We've got it down a fine art now, basically we take everything we need out there."

“Even while emerging from a coma, my attitude remained the same as always,” he wrote.