In the local elections the Conservatives came out as top dogs after decades of Labour control. Whether they can do any better for the Ribble Valley, only time will tell. Will we see a greater improvement in our services or will it be more of the same?

The local highlight of the county council election count was the battle royal between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats for the Clitheroe Division seat. There had to be two recounts after a close poll and, after some confusion, the Lib-Dems won by a handful of votes.

Yet it appears most Clitheroe folk are either not interested in politics or have effectively voted against all the parties standing by not voting at all. The turnout for Clitheroe Division was just 36%, with the Lib-Dems coming into power with just over 1,800 votes. That represents a small percentage of the actual number of voters in the Clitheroe Division.

In other words, it could be argued the majority of people in the division did not want the Lib-Dems (or any other) in power, but here lies the problem with our present system – how can you register a vote of no confidence in any party within the present system?

The European elections panned out as predicted, with the Conservatives winning hands down. The other main party that did well was the UK Independence Party (UKIP), coming into second place above all others. And, whether you like them or loathe them, it is now a fact the BNP has two Members of the European Parliament, one right here representing you in the North West.

People are now expressing their anger and frustration that this far right party has been elected, but with nearly a million voters, one has to ask, are their policies the in-thing?

Over the years there has been a constant cry for the banning of the BNP, but in doing so do we not lay ourselves open for action to ban other parties, and do we then not risk becoming a dictatorship?

In England we pride ourselves on being a tolerant country. If we begin the process of banning legitimate political parties, then the action we took in 1939 would have been a wasted one.

As I said, love them or loathe them, action at the ballot box is the way forward – but not if only 36% bother to turn out.