Knocking on doors to remind people to vote can be very dispiriting. Yes, you get the occasional person pledging their support to you, but you also come across people who are not on the electoral register or have no intention of voting.

People today have no idea how their ancestors struggled to get the vote. And they don’t appreciate the privilege as they do in countries where there has been no previous democracy. Lots of people take democracy for granted and the political contests that mean so much to us don’t feature on the agenda of their lives.

Actually therefore, because so many people waive their right to vote, we don’t live in a true democracy; our local and national leaders are chosen by a minority, by those who do bother to vote.

It’s very important therefore that those who do vote make their choice for the right reason; they should not think ‘what’s in it for me’ but ‘how will this vote affect my neighbour’; ie ‘I may not use the library threatened with closure, but the child next door does.’

I urge everyone reading this who can do to vote on Thursday, and to vote according to what’s in the best interests of others, not themselves.

Dan Barker
Lib. Dem. Candidate for Short Heath