You’re right there Michael, yes you’re right — so just do something about it

I GOT some flak last week. Apparently in the column I wrote here I gave the impression that the local and European elections were largely irrelevant, certainly by comparison with some of the major political events that were beginning to unfold.

This was interpreted by some readers as my attempt to discourage people from voting — apparently on the basis that a non-vote is good for the Labour Party.

If I did indeed give that impression, I’m sorry. Nothing is more important or fundamental in a democracy than going out and casting a vote. I don’t think I’ve ever in my life told anyone who they should vote for, just as I’ve never made a secret of my vote — after all, if you’ve been a member of the same political party all your adult life, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to start denying it. But I’ve always argued that no matter how you feel, you have an obligation to vote.