Only moments ago, the first leaflets of the campaign were delivered through my letterbox. This time from the local conservative candidate for the Suffolk County Council Elections (also on May 5th).
One has to love the kind of nonsense that people put in their election leaflets, the kind of woolly and vague promises that don't really mean much of anything:
"conservatives want to keep our communities alive", "reduce the number of accidents on our roads", "support older people in Suffolk", etc., About as exciting as reading the local weekly free rag.
Now how about some real issues, like more police on the beat. The first time I saw a policeman in suffolk was three years after I moved here. Or perhaps "rural issues". For a conservative candidate in a mostly rural area, this candidate is extremely muted on the issue of foxhunting and other country pursuits.
Anyway, my original purpose in writing this article, is if you're going to be a prospective (parliamentary/district council) candidate and you slap your web address all over your leaflets, for gods sake keep it up to date. For a politician, a web site you update twice a year just so you can say "I've got a website", suggests you don't have much to say, probably are't actually doing that much and invites ridicule all round. It is an ideal way for a politician to keep in touch with their constituents (and vice-versa), if used properly, and another resource in trying to engage more people in democracy and politics.
So, Rebecca Hopfensperger, keep that site updated!
