Local Election Apathy?

[AB Asks]

Thursday's local elections in England, Scotland and Wales are rapidly approaching and the hysteria is mounting�.or is it? Unlike America where every election seems to divide a nation, inspiring banner waving enthusiasts to come out in their hundreds, Britain in general seems to treat the whole process with indifference. Are you actively interested in the local election results or are you only voting out of habit? Or do you feel that voting is a waste of time?

[Oneeyedvic]

In the last 6 months I have become active in a local community group and this has brought me into contact with a lot of local councillors and council officials.

I must confess that prior to this my thoughts of both the aforementioned people was not particularly nice.

However, I have found that the majority of these people are actually very passionate about the local area and are genuinely trying to build a better community.

Maybe I'm just lucky with the area that I live in!

[Reverandfunk]

Passionate and good at what they do are totally different though, I'm passionate about music but can't play an instrument lol. I never vote (one reason being I'm not on the electoral roll) mainly due to the fact that nothing changes greatly no matter who is in power.

[fine,thanks]

when todays politicians stop trying to be t. v. celebrities and do the job they are very well paid for . then people may return to voting .

[Kromovaracun]

I don't think it's quite fair to draw a comparison with the USA, as party distinctions are more blurry and thus they tend to have broader appeal. Plus turnout in the USA is also remarkably low.

The problem really is a lack of ay decent candidates;

Brown's probably the best bet at the moment, but we could still be doing better.

Cameron is a twerp.

Campbell has stopped moving...

With a selection such as this, I can understand low turnout...

Plus the UK electoral system is rather flawed and tends to inflate majorities, so voting doesn't mean quite as much as it does under other systems (though I still think people should vote).

[MustafaTickl]

The Oxford English Dictionary defines "twerp" as "A despicable or objectionable person; an insignificant person, a nobody; a nincompoop".

[wired]

Yes, I will vote because I have the right that others fought for.I have a choice that is denied to some in other countries.
I will vote for my chosen candidate,as usual I will not have a great deal to choose from nor do I think that I make much of a difference.
Since this government elected to go to war despite many of the electorate being against it and many demonstrating against it and the government ignored their pleas,I realise that this is not the democratic country that I thought it was but I will still vote( if only to try to keep one party out) !!
Thankyou for allowing me to vent that!! ;0)

[naomi24]

I don't see anything mounting - except apathy. I will vote because we can't change things unless we vote, but I don't hold out any hope. I believe the country has gone so far down the drain, no matter who wins or loses, it's past the point of no return.

[Kathyan]

If it wasn't for receiving the voting cards last week I wouldn't have known there was an election in our area! We haven't heard anything from anyone regarding who is standing, so I had to go on the local council website to find out. It makes me think 'if they can't be bothered then why should I', but I will vote if only to try to get this lot out!

[jenstar]

I've had lots of leaflets from various candidates/parties. They divide into two types: those who don't really say anything at all about their policies or how they intend to achieve them; and those who itemise their policies in great detail, all of whom appear to have sneaked over with Rudolf Hess back in 1941.

[mike1222]

ALL politicians in this country are liars and are like pigs with their snouts in the trough. I cannot bring myself to vote for a liar, therefore I do not vote.
What's more, I cannot understand how any reasonably intelligent person, of whatever political persuasion, can actually vote for ANY of these parasites!!

[Marvelman]

Voting is the only way we can tell the politicians how we feel about their policies, at the last local elections in my ward the turnout was twenty eight percent, but people are always moaning about the council, i always tell them , if you dont vote, dont moan. why do people use the same old excuse "it wont make any difference", because they are to lazy to vote, of course it will make a difference if enough people vote. the last thing any politician wants, is to lose his well paid cushy job.

[Oneeyedvic]

mike1222 "ALL politicians in this country are liars and are like pigs with their snouts in the trough. I cannot bring myself to vote for a liar, therefore I do not vote."

Is probably the most ridiculous statement that I have ever heard. But I am curious - how many of them have you actually spoken to?

[Playbill]

I will have no difficulty in deciding who to vote for today - my son. He is standing for the Green Party and believes passionately in trying to help make a positive change in council policies.
He is only twenty, but is studying politics at university so probably knows a bit more than some other candidates for the 'minor' parties.

[kwicky]

I have a suggestion. Remove this extra level of goverment, abolish council rates and put all the expenditure on income tax. What is the point of their existance: twice a local building development was refused by the council only for them to appeal to a higher authority and overturn the objections. A waste of many peoples time!

[jno]

them as don't vote are not well placed to whinge about the people others have voted for. If you're going to opt out of democracy, do it properly

[Oneeyedvic]

"What is the point of their existance: twice a local building development was refused by the council only for them to appeal to a higher authority and overturn the objections. A waste of many peoples time!"

As ridiculous an argument as saying lets not have magistrates courts as people successfully appeal to a higher court.

[kwicky]

Except that in local authority decisions they should be best served to know the local community and genuine reasons for refusal unlike courts which rely on a point of law. Without this sanction local authorities can no longer represent their local communities, so why have them?

[Oneeyedvic]

I disagree (there's a surprise!) I think that local issues aren't always best dealt with by local people who may have grudges etc and that there should be an appeals process.

Also, don't forget that a lot of local planning issues are legal issues (like the courts).

However, I do actually agree in principle with you - there is no need for a town council and a county council - there should probably be only one.