Next week will be the elections – both Euro and for Wyre Forest district council. Sadly, the turnout will be low. If next week’s elections are like previous Euro and council elections, seven out of every ten people reading this column will not bother to vote. When you consider just how hard people fought to get the vote for women, this is a very sad thing. And of course, people lost their lives in two world wars to ensure that, amongst many other things, democracy survived.
My journey in politics is relatively new. In 2001 I certainly wasn’t a member of any political party and I took very little interest at all. I guess I was rather like most people – I rather assumed than my vote wouldn’t count and trying to fathom out what the policies were, or meant, was too difficult and tedious.
But in the 4 years that I have been an MP, I have been staggered at how important politics is. The country may be able to run itself without political leadership, but not for long and certainly without any direction. The ballot box is the one single way that individuals can say how they want the country, the district council or Europe to be run.
The issue of protest votes is interesting. IN 2001, faced with the downscaling of the local hospital, Wyre Forest (not being listened to by decision makers) found a way to absolutely make its voice heard. Today, there are issues that people feel they want to register their unease over – immigration, EU bureaucracy, to name two. But in registering a protest vote, those elected will have to engage and deliver – whoever they are.
I have always asked three simple questions when choosing who to vote for. Firstly, is the candidate relevant? Are that party’s policies the right ones for the current issues? If not, what’s the point in voting for them?
Secondly, perhaps most importantly, is the candidate or party competent? It’s all very well having good ideas, but can they deliver? Will they make the difference they claim or is it all just hot air and bluster?
Finally, are they on my side? Do they understand how this affects me? That has to be a personal choice of each voter.
Elections are important. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, but please vote.