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The long awaited election is finally upon us. Gordon Brown has christened it 'the people's election' which should be stating the obvious - but it does sum up the feeling that far from being bored by politics, people are engaging in it like never before. Critics will point to the fact that its is a negative engagement - MPs expenses have angered people so much that they are taking up arms against the corrupt - and there is certainly widespread disillusionment with the political process. Yet with voter turnout forecast to be high, people are using their vote to express their opinions and that can only be good for democracy.
With this newly politicised electorate the new government, no matter what the colour or colours, will not get much of a honeymoon. Encouraged by the main parties, voters want more from their politicians and there will be an expectation that a new administration will listen to people's needs and take action. My hope is that whichever party/ies win that they capitalise on this interest in local politics by engaging people in issues that affect them. Getting people involved in local public services has long been an aim of all the main parties and now is the perfect time to build on this new found motivation. People have made it clear that they are unhappy with the old system and want to establish a new way of doing things. The time is right to get people engaged. Third sector organisations like Groundwork are well placed to act as an intermediary and offer the support required to give people a voice. Otherwise only the loudest will get heard.
If we can harness people's interest in decisions that affect them and, crucially, show them they are being listened to, then the election will have achieved something even more valuable than deciding our new government.
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