It would seem that the world of current affairs has got stuck in the groove of “expense-gate” recently. It actually took the end of a war (Sri-lanka civil war) to knock it off top place on the news!

As a political campaigner there is nothing more revitalising than getting out on the streets and meeting real people, hearing about real issues that affect peoples day to day living and quality of life. Thanks to the European Elections and the Radcliffe By-election thats exactly what I’ve been doing lately (when not enjoying the latest event in Prestwich festival!)

On the one hand you despair at the the claims for moat cleaning, swimming pool maintenance, duck islands and gi-normous plasma screen TV’s (and the rest).

But what is exhillarating is the great british public voicing their anger and giving the political extablishment a damn good kicking where it hurts most. In a perverse kind of way it shows our democracy and parliament really does matter to people. And so long as the anger and dissapointment is responded to properly by the political parties, I am convinced we will ultimately end up with a much better Parliament, better MP’s and better Government. That has to be the case because if things go in the opposite direction I fear for our democracy and future Governments. 

Back to the campaign trail (or Browns Waterloo as it seems to becoming), and it’s genuinely refreshing to hear peoples concerns about the local issues as well as national and international affairs. Its also good to know that not all politicians are viewed with distrust, dissapointment and disdain nor as fraudsters mired in sleaze and arrogance for their fellow man. No not all of us – just most of us !