I am drafting a letter. At the moment it’s a bit of a rant, but it will be refined and streamlined as the day progresses. The letter is about the lack of interest I was shown by the political system during the elections. I got one leaflet per party (apart from Labour who has clearly given up). I used to get canvassed a lot during election times when I was living in Watford, but I have had no contact. The last general election was the same. I was sent a few leaflets, but nothing else. I am wondering who I should send them to. I am very annoyed by these elections. I am annoyed that the BNP got seats. I am incandescent that this happened because the main parties just could not be arsed to communicate with the electorate. They were clearly taking our votes for granted, and in doing so allowed extremists (and I count UKIP as extremists - though I am sure that others may not agree with me) to get more than a small foothold.

I am considering sending it to the three main party leaders. Possibly the local parties offices too. Gordon Brown won’t care, as I got nothing from Labour (and he is clearly “considering his position”). They need to know that the BNP cared enough to pop a leaflet through my letter box. That will win votes in some people’s books. I would suspect that the local papers should get a copy of the letter too. I am just wondering if there are any others I should be writing to, or is that is all covered?

I am just angry with it all today. I will calm down.

The main parties will always concentrate their efforts on marginal seats. Safe seats are left for the smaller parties to fight over.

That's the broken system we have in this country. My county council ward is safe Tory, no matter what. We had leaflets, but nobody came round to canvass in person. They obviously don't think it's worth their time, because the Conservative candidates will win anyway.

you could send it to any questions and question time. you never know

That’s what I know and feel. Chelmsford is safe Tory too. Makes me wonder why I should bother to vote if the Tories will always get in.

And there you've hit the nail with the nub of the crux of the matter.

The question is how do politicians persuade people to vote if their vote doesn't really matter in many cases? If enough people went out and voted against the incumbent in a safe seat, it stops being safe or switches sides.

I couldn't be bothered reading any further... :etc:

Sorry, someone had to say it and, as is generally the case, it may as well have been me

No leaflets and no canvassers came anywhere near my street.

I have to laugh at UKIP though, the only reason they got so many votes is because people are fed up with Labour but cannot stomach the thought of voting for the Tories.

Thing us, there have been swings in 'safe' seats. In the south west my local council swung from being strongly Lib Dem to strongly Tory. Even more amazingly, Wrexham voted Tory over Labour. About 4 years ago when a friend and I moved out the Tory vote got pretty much halved. I was getting somewhat apathetic about voting back home because it had always been such a safe seat.

I'm sure there were more than four voters!

Weren't there?

I don't know precise figures, I suspect there were more than 4. However, it was always a Labour landslide. To be fair, from what I saw of Ian Lucas (the MP) he seems to be fairly free thinking on the whole, and voted against the war, which was good.

There's no such thing as a safe seat, just ask Michael Portillo circa. 1997.

His seat next to Diane Abbot seems pretty safe. I like him better as a TV presenter than as a politician.

I'd like him better stuffed and mounted on the wall than as a TV presenter.

They all know these elections weren't that important.
Wait until the general election next year, then you'll get canvassed.

Funny how that works, since most laws that affect Britain are now made in Brussels...