The upcoming local elections on June 4th may be an interesting reflection of how the public feels about national politics. However, this should not be the case.

When coming to vote for a local councillor, many of the population will have the expenses scandal, the economic crisis, settlement rights for Ghurkas and many more issues whizzing around their heads like a swarm of angry locusts, eating away at the rationale of voting in local elections.

None of these issues are particularly important at local council level. Yet they may well be the deciding factors when people are ticking the box.

Don’t vote for a party, vote for the candidate. If you’re a stalwart Tory but your local Tory candidate is an arse, don’t vote for them. Vote for the most competent candidate that shares your views on local issues. Vote for the candidate that seems most trustworthy and has a loud, clear, representative voice. Independents are more likely to be strong candidates as they are entering politics off their own backs, genuinely wanting action and change with a passion for local issues.

The only time you should consider a party when voting locally is the BNP. Anyone who represents the BNP is not a reasonable, straight-thinking individual.

The key is research. Read up about each candidate. Contact them personally to ask for more details on their views. Make sure that when you are standing in that booth the decision you make is informed.

Forget party politics in local elections.