POLITICIANS have been complaining about public apathy at this election but frankly they seem to be displaying more inertia about the whole thing than any of us.

Only the Tories have sent me their pamphlet of election rantings. The other lot haven't bothered at all.

Even worse than that, not a single party has sent their man or woman to my doorstep. I live just outside South Bucks.

For those parties that have parachuted their candidate in from another area, they could at least have the excuse that they could not find my road in the A to Z.

But frankly those fielding local candidates should be ashamed of themselves.

Arguing on the doorstep is one of most precious of our democratic rights, second only to going to one of their surgeries, pretending you think they're a doctor and complaining about your bunions. It's our democratic right.

Plus this year, I've been holding captive the last Jehovah Witness who called and I was planning to set them loose on the first candidate who called.

It's all very disappointing. Not a free poster, no badges to wear. Last year I got a free video from Labour. I had hoped this year they might have upped the stakes to DVD but not a sausage.

How can they expect us to take them seriously if they cannot even be bothered to face humiliation on the doorstep. It used to be the way that you would see the candidate when they were elected then not hear from them again for five years. Now you don't even get to see them at all.