APART from rampant halitosis, the easiest way to empty a room of people is to talk about politics. Liberal Democrat policy on Europe may stir the loins of some in Parliament but I'm afraid it does nothing for me.

We are made to feel guilty about not voting, but it is the politicians who are failing us not the other way round.

The future of our children, our mums and dads, how much money we have in our pockets how is it that politicians can make these subjects, the most important things in our lives, seem so deadly dull?

Every day we have to suffer the old windbags in our papers, and on TV and radio moaning on about Europe, self-government for the Outer Hebrides or some such rubbish.

Don't they realise, no one's listening?

To borrow an old phrase, most people ignore politicians because politicians ignore most people. Can anyone honestly say that the colour of the government has really had much effect on their lives?

Too often MPs can be seen as distant figures who turn up to open the occasional fete or school speech day then disappear up to Westminster in time for their tea.

What we need is MPs who actually have a stake in the area they represent. Surely the ideal MP would live in their constituency, shop and socialise there.

When was the last time you saw your MP walking down the High Street or popping in for a sandwich at your local Tesco?

I am struck, for example, when I visit Ireland how much their MPs are part of the community, how they are seen in the street, how they know many of the families in their area.

MPs should be campaigners fighting for more money for their area, fighting to help its hospitals and schools.

I have seen some great MPs whose lives are dedicated to their area. I have also seen too many young MPs you suspect see a constituency as a stepping stone to a glorious career in government.

Say what you like about district councillors (and there's plenty I would like to say) you can at least actually see them around town and buttonhole them about what they have or haven't done.

How are we supposed to feel that an MP has a stake in the area if we never actually see them there?

When it comes to the Bucks Free Press election forum tonight, I hope that these are the questions people will ask.

Stuff Europe and whether devolution is a good idea. What do you think about the western sector, how can we improve A&E at the hospital?

It is only when MPs start talking at this level that they will find that people are willing to listen. Otherwise fewer and fewer people will turn out and fewer and fewer people will bother to find out what the different parties are saying.

On second thoughts, perhaps that's what they really want.