SOON it will be that time again when the "groupies" of our political leaders come knocking on our doors with smiling faces, claiming that their man (or woman) can sling mud better than the others.

I find it strange, having returned from the Ukraine (which is supposed to be a developing second world country) to find there are over 1.3 million children living below the poverty line in the UK.

So many people choose to live on benefits here because the minimum wage so is nowhere near enough to put a roof over their heads.

We hear talk about the health service.

Just the other day it was announced that there are 2,000 new NHS dental vacancies for patients in this area. Can someone tell me where there is a dental practice in the Clitheroe area that will accept NHS patients?

Those places are probably not being taken because unemployed people are too busy buying and selling on Ebay to supplement their benefits so they can book their next Caribbean cruise.

So is poverty now fuelling crime I wonder?

Some people may say the influx of migrants from Eastern Europe is to blame for the poor wages now paid by the area's employers.

Tto some extent this may be true, but it does not underline the fact that many successful businesses are just being greedy and exploiting a cheap labour market. The evidence can easily be seen when you look at the obscene salaries and bonuses executives of those companies pay themselves.

I have no issues with sensible immigration. I wonder just how many people in East Lancashire are as disaffected with the way our country is being run as I am.

The sad truth is no matter who wins the next election, nothing will change because people at the top of the political spectrum would probably have to look on a map to find where East Lancs is. So long as they are elected or re-elected, and can claim a high salary out of the pockets of people who have to go out and do a hard day's work, who gives a damn.

The next time a political canvasser knocks on my door, I will either get back to them, look into it, or not comment on individual cases when they ask me for their support.

ALAN BARNSLEY, St Mary's Street, Clitheroe.