Saturday, April 22, 2006

Local Elections - why a 30% turnout?

Like all activities, voting happens when people think it might make a difference. The more the parties fight over the same middle ground, the fewer voters there will be in all elections. Local ones suffer most because with capping on the 25% of their revenue that comes from Council Tax councilors have less room than ever to manoeuvre. After Labour gave Ealing a national record 65% rise in 1987 and around 35% the next year, Maggie introduced capping. Politically I wish she hadn't.
If all local revenue came from local tax we would get a much better turn out at local elections. On the same principle we English would stop subsidising so much in the other UK countries.z

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