by Stephen Blease

Last updated at 15:51, Thursday, 12 April 2012

Spring is in the air. The signs are unmistakable.

The first election leaflet of the season has floated through my letterbox this week.

Local council election leaflets never seem very exciting.

I’ve never received one yet that has grabbed my attention on the walk from the front door to the recycling box in the kitchen.

And it seems the council elections themselves don’t grab the attention of many of us either.

Party leaders of course are interested, and scan the results for signs of their popularity and unpopularity.

The national media, obsessed as usual with London, are preoccupied by the Livingstone versus Johnson contest in the capital.

But almost 70 per cent of us don’t bother to vote in them.

I’m one of the 30 per cent or so who always do.

Because whatever objections any of us have to our politicians or our political system – and I have many – we should recognise its one greatest virtue.

If we want to we can sack all our political leaders, at national or local level.

The ability to get rid of your government without bloodshed is something people in many parts of the world would give their eye-teeth for.

Thousands who fought Hitler and Mussolini 70 years ago gave their lives for it.

It’s an insult to their memories if we can’t be bothered to spare five minutes to put a cross in a box.

First published at 11:57, Thursday, 12 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk