Letter: Voter ennui
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Dave Sullivan (10 May) and other correspondents, while making valid points regarding the vagaries of our local electoral system, have ignored a vital aspect of the electorate's apparent disenchantment with local politicians and politics in general.
Successive governments of all political hues have gradually emasculated local government to the point where, provided their bins are emptied regularly, their planning applications approved, their children taken off their hands between 9 and 4, most people never give local government a second thought.
Last week my own party, the Liberal Democrats, took all five district council seats in the town where I live with about 17 per cent of those eligible to vote.
Such gimmicks as elected mayors will make no significant difference to turnouts. What might, beside the introduction of PR, would be for central government to return to local government some of the powers that it has taken away over the years.
Councillor JOHN MARRIOTT
North Hykeham, Lincoln
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments