Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier on the general election

From Friday this week, there are no MPs so this will be my last column of this parliament.

Over the coming five weeks up to July 4 election day, there will be plenty of opportunity for me and the other candidates to put forward achievements over the last five years and promises for the next.

It’s certainly not for me to use this forum to make my case here.

Party leaders will have their manifestos scrutinised in a far deeper way than before.

The press will, rightly, be relentless.

People will have time to read the literature, watch the leaders’ debates, weigh up pros and cons.

Whilst everyone will, I hope, be making a case for their vision for the future, much of the debate will be why you shouldn’t vote for the other team.

Whilst the election is about constituencies voting for their local MPs, all of us appreciate that electors look at the parties and their leaders.

They want to know what the vision of the future looks like.

Democracy has been a hard-won right.

There are many things wrong with any voting system but, whatever people’s views, it is far better than the alternatives.

And we should never forget that it is only a little over a century ago that women got the vote.

It is unimaginable that anyone should not have the vote and now, in 21st-century Britain, the only people over 18 denied the vote are prisoners, those committed under mental health issues and members of the House of Lords.

So my appeal to everyone in the coming weeks is to read the leaflets — every one!

Listen to the debates and vote on July 4.

Our democratic system works better when more people vote.

The worst thing that can happen is for a government to get into power on low turnout — it is a weak mandate.

I, and the other candidates here in Wyre Forest, will be out and about.

Stop us and ask about what we promise for you.

It’s your opportunity to have your say about the next five years, both here in Wyre Forest and in the wider country.

We have a great country.