That is just what most politicians prefer, hoping that the few who do vote will be for them – and history shows they are right.

And as we can now vote by post without leaving our couches/armchairs/beds etc there is really no excuse.

People may think "my vote doesn't matter". But you all know that it does.

It's the only real chance every four/five years we have of showing our likes/dislikes and trust in the person who is going to affect your life for the next four/five years. The rest of the time all we can do is mutter in our beer.

I would prefer voting to be compulsory and held on a Sunday, as a lot of Europeans do, and I do urge everyone get off their backsides for five minutes and show the UK that Hartlepool really governs correctly.

Just pick the person who you hope you can trust best and put a cross alongside their name and you can sleep easy that night knowing you've done something that may affect your lives.

All the best folks. Editor, thank you.

J R (Reg) Kelly,
Loyalty Road,
Hartlepool