[jaysay]

I agree with other people on this subject, people should be picted on mertit, I actually think that men are by nature more interested in politics than women, I have 2 Daughters a Granddaughter and a Girlfiend and no of them give a monkies about politics, in fact its never mentioned in my home when they are around. I have had the same Girlfriend for 17 years and I still dont know which party she votes for, in fact I think she probably votes for the person not the party, mind you she lives in Wigan Metro so their aint a lot of choise there. I actually think that Hyndburn does not do to badly as far as women candidates go, they seem to be elected on a regular basis irrespective of which party they represent, far more than my early years in politics. When I first got involved over 40 years ago there was only one woman councillor out of fifteen on the old Oswaldtwistle UDC and that was a doctors wife Mrs Pittarde, as for the other UDCs Im not sure, but the involement of women was very sparse to say the least. I think that getting more young people interested in politics at all levels is more essential for the future, as they are the future. In my youth people of my age seemed more interested in politics, With the Young tories and young socialist movements being very active in this area, there were over 70 members of Ossy Y.CS. IN 1964 alone, but theres very little interest today. Maybe its the Fault of the so called senior politicians at national level of all parties that is turning young people away, who knows only time will tell