Okay then. I love politics and I also love Wakefield.

I hate Wakefield politics though.

Is there any point whatsoever in voting in the locals in May? Out of 21 wards, the Lib Dems have only managed to field a mere 12 candidates - pathetic. The BNP have managed to field exactly this amount. Worrying? You bet. That the Neo-Nazis can get 12 people willing to stand for them is appalling. The fact they tend to do better in the local elections than the Lib Dems is even more appalling.

We shouldn't be surprised though. How often does a Lib Dem activist bother to canvas in Wakefield? Since when do they do anything to publicise themselves? It's little wonder that after all this time they can still only claim one ward (Ossett) as their own.

What other choices do the people of Wakefield have? They can vote for the awful Labour council - you know the council with no real opposition. The council that has just sacked loads of its employees. The council which continually puts council tax up way beyond the rate of inflation. Vote Labour? No thanks. Mind you if anyone needs your support right now it is Gordon Brown. Amazing how MP for Normanton (and education secretary) is urging MP's to be loyal to the government when he did all he could to undermine Mr Blair.

You could of course vote for the extremely reactionary local Tory party. This is the local party which deselected one of its own candidates because he was too obviously gay. They are pretty vile to be honest. I reckon Boris Johnson will win the mayoral election although Londoners must be absolutely crazy to support such a moron.

There are two Greens. Only two though so the chances are you won't be able to vote for them.

For God's sake don't bother with UKIP - only one candidate though thank God.

The Socialist candidate, Mick Griffiths is standing again - in Wakefield East. I guess he's okay. Seems to spend every Saturday hanging out outside HMV with a petition for some cause or other.

Who the hell are British Voice? Well indeed, nobody seems to quite know. They are a Wakefield based Micky Mouse party and seem to consist of two members. Their mnemonic phrase is...wait for it...'Be a Brit Different'. Ahem. Be a brit what? A Brit racist? A Brit like the BNP? Well, their flyer moans about how 'British' houses are being given to 'foreign families'. Yay - they sound original. Totally different to the BNP then. Ah but wait, they have another policy. They (I say they - I mean their two members) have also produced a number of leaflets about Thornes Park and the planned redevelopment (destruction) to make way for a new rugby stadium - to be paid for by local taxation (remember this if you are thinking of voting Labour). So, British Voice like the park but not foreigners - I guess you could say Labour like foreigners but don't like the park - I guess that is a balance then.

So there we have it. Local democracy Wakefield style - oh and there are a few Independents although who knows what they stand for - maybe they like foreigners but not in the park.