THE leader column in last week's Review was sad but true. Whether at local or national level, vast numbers of the British people do not bother to vote. I would also wager that those that did vote in Lydney North were mainly aged 50-plus.

As 80 per cent of our laws are now made in Brussels, I can understand the lack of participation in Westminster elections. In addition, ordinary people cannot connect with a metropolitan elite who live in a bubble remote from the things that matter in our lives.

However, locally, we have representatives such as Councillors Leppington, Guyton and Preest of UKIP and Labour's Paul McMahon and Tim Gwilliam who work diligently for their local communities.

So, please don't give up on democracy and political involvement. If you don't vote then you cannot complain about what you get.

– Alan Grant, Parkend.