LETTER: Messages from the doorsteps

Today we go to the polls in order to cast our vote - both nationally and locally. The outcome of the elections will decide our political fate for another five years. But have you actually met a candidate from any of the parties on your doorstep?
By The Newsroom
Published 7th May 2015, 07:00 BST
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Your letters

Canvassing for votes in my immediate area of Horsham is no easy task. So many of the front doors sport an official notice - endorsed by both the Sussex Police and Horsham District Council along the lines, ‘No Cold Callers - Unless you have an Appointment - Don’t Knock or Ring - Just Go Away’.

Note the absence of any ‘Please’ or ‘Thank-you’. It’s an aggressive, no-nonsense message - amounting to rudeness - so suited to our modern society and demonstrating to me an insular meanness of spirit.

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So when I hear top politicians of all political parties questioning the latest polling data by saying, ‘That’s not what I hear on the doorstep - according to our canvassing returns etc, etc’ - I know that they cannot have visited my neck of the woods.

Add to this the stiff brushes behind most letter boxes - and delivering election material becomes something of a nightmare - with the added bonus of red raw knuckles. I do feel sorry for the average postman or woman. To my mind, they deserve a medal!

Gone are the days when political candidates toured our streets with loudspeaker cars boldly sporting their names and political party and willing to argue the toss on your door-step.

Today, any appearance is a contrived photo-opportunity - usually involving very young children at play school - surrounded with smiling mums.

So, please - if you want our vote, spare us the all too transparent spin!

ROBERT W. WORLEY

Bourns Court, Ayshe Court Drive, Horsham

Related topics:Sussex PoliceHorsham District Council