The French people went to the polls on Sunday to elect their new President. This was the second election in two weeks. The first stage of the Presidential election, two weeks ago, narrowed the field of many candidates down to two people, Sergolene Royal and Nicholas Sarkozy. Nicholas Sarkozy won and is now President elect.

The turn-out for these elections was 85% of the electorate each time. The turn-out for UK elections is something in the order of 42% of the electorate, and I believe that in other countries low voter turn-out is also a problem. So are the French more political than other nations? judging by the success of the new UK government petitions website, those who protest in the street and those people who stand as candidates in local council elections on a single issue, it is not that the British are less interested in politics than the French.

I think rather, it is that the British people have no choice. In Britain today, there is a political consensus between the two major parties, Labour and Conservtive about what is right for the country, privatisation, de-regulataion of indusry and allowing market forces free rein in the economy. Therefore there in effect two Conservatve parties with not much to choose between them on any issue. The only other party is the Liberal Democrat party who cannot seem to decide which direction they wish to go and their policies are those of a party doomed to continual opposition. Whilst people might agree with their policy on one or two issues they will be violently opposed to liberal democrat policies in other areas.

Voters are also tired of Members of Parliament who blindly follow the party line on issues instead of voting for the good of their constituents and in the interests of their constituency. Voters feel that their vote doesn't count.

It is very difficult for a small party or an individual to fund an election campaign, the national parties spend so much on election campaigns. Martin Bell in the 1990's was the first independant M.P to be elected to the U.K Parliament for over fifty years.

The answer as why voter turn-out is so low is not that the Public are disinterested in politics but that they are tired of British Politics as they currently stand.