THIS is a good time to be practising non-partisan politics - by which I mean an independent alternative to the mud-slinging which typifies the party battlefields.

The tension between the party agenda and the public agenda is not a new one. However, the tension has become more acute over recent years as political parties of all colours have sought to control their representatives more and the voter's attitudes towards the political system.

The lack of "bottom up" democracy is now more offensive than ever before.

Independents in the democratic structures represent good value for money. They have to work three times harder than Labour, Liberal or Conservatives to get elected to, and retain office.

They have to earn and retain the confidence of the local electorate, and we hope that, as independents we represent the "common sense" factor that is so rapidly vanishing from local government.

Independent politicians believe no party has a monopoly of good ideas and local governance depends on people of goodwill, who listen to advice, argue and debate, are capable of arriving at sensible decisions on their merits for the good of the community, and are not driven by a higher party allegiance.

More and more we are seeing people who are members of all political parties becoming independent, in order to throw off the shackles of the party whip and escape from decision-making behind closed doors.

MILNER WHITEMAN.

Arlescott Farm,

Broseley,

Shropshire.