Borrowing a theatrical analogy, local politics has become the fringe event at the national festival.
But is that really right? Local issues and the management of its infrastructure affects people just as much - and often more - than national issues. We need strong representation from our locally elected politicians to make certain that the environment surrounding our everyday lives is protected.
I was shocked and more than a little disappointed, today, to discover that there were only four candidates up for election in my local area and they came from only two parties - yes, you have guessed it.....Conservative and Labour.
What sort of choice is that? Why have they been left without competition? Have the other parties that used to take part now just given up the fight or is it that no-one can be bothered to stand as a candidate and try to close the gap against the two heavyweights?
Whatever the reason, it is a sad day for both local politics and democracy as a whole, when we are left with such a lack of alternatives.
A two party political world makes for a very boring world indeed!
2 comments:
I can answer on behalf of Lib Dems. We didn't put anyone up in Queensborough simply because we do not have enough candidates. We had 13 candidates to challenge for 16 Swale seats.
UKIP only had five candidates for the same reason.
Hi Keith
Congratulations on increasing your share of the vote - I hope you have now recovered from the long campaign!
What a worrying world we now live in when there are not enough people willing to stand for office at a local level.
A choice of no choice between red and blue leaves me wishing I was colour blind!
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