Vote

Today in London you can vote for who represents you in an odd circular room in Strasbourg (and occasionally Brussels) to talk about some of the most mundane things you can think of.


Anti-discrimination legislation, free movement of goods, workers, capital and the freedom of establishment to provide services may sound vaguely interesting, but when they're debated through an interpreter by people who have a whole range of incomprehensible issues with each other and chips on their shoulders, they become even more tedious. That said, endless bureaucracy doesn't produce itself.

However, it's always better to be represented by someone who shares your views, and if you're not that bothered why not vote for someone inoffensive, who isn't filled with all the hate it is possible to have in your heart.

Your author is, however, a keen advocate of your right not to vote if you just don't care. Not caring is generally a symbol that everything is just about fine. You may wish to consider, however, that there are other people who care enough to vote but have views that are just wrong.

Anyway, your author will be visiting his local polling station, even if just to spoil the ballot paper, as he gets to make his annual trip to vote in the grand surroundings of Shoreditch Town Hall. He recommends that you also make the trip as you may, if nothing else, gain an insight into your local community that you did not have before, by visiting a local school, community centre or town hall which you may not normally get to see.

For a list of all the candidates standing visit http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/london-european-elections.

_{^Picture of the European Parliament from Flickr courtesy of inyucho^}