Out in the cold

There is to be a General Election hustings in Huntingdon, courtesy of the Hunts Post.

This can only be a good thing, right? As the paper's editor says: "This will be your chance to hear what the candidates have to say on major issues that affect the Huntingdon constituency and the policies, such as public spending, that will be shaping the future of the country."

Sadly,the audience will only get to hear what the three 'main parties' have to say. The other four candidates standing in the election, including yours truly, are not invited.

The same paper has published a story from the Electoral Reform Society, which says Cambridgeshire's seats are all 'dead certs' - safe seats where voting will make no difference to the outcome.

That is a depressing thought and it can't help when one of the very few opportunities for people to meet the candidates excludes the majority of those standing. Democracy is about choice. Surely people need to hear from all the candidates if their choice is to be an informed one?

Still, as I said before, I'm not taking anything for granted - not the people of Huntingdon and not the result of this election. Wouldn't it be nice if we were able to prove the Electoral Reform Society wrong...