'What about us' ask older voters

12:10pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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ELDERLY people have hit out at politicians who "ignored" them in the run-up to the local elections.

Blackburn with Darwen Older People's Forum sent letters to all 67 candidates in the borough council elections, asking for their view on issues affecting the over-50s.

But only seven candidates responded, and forum chairman Brian Todd has warned other prospective councillors that in future, their responses, or lack of them, will be sent to every member of the 1,600-strong group.

He said: "When we sent letters out in 2007 we only got nine responses, and this year we only got seven.

"The ones who replied last year were from Labour and For Darwen.

"This year, they were all Labour responses, except a long and detailed letter from one of the Conservatives. For Darwen didn't bother this time.

"The candidates are not showing any respect for the electorate like this.

"older people are statistically far more likely to vote than anyone else, and we have important issues to discuss, but we have been ignored.

"Next time, we will be sending a synopsis of responses to all our members so that they can make informed decisions.

I hope that will spur more of them on to take some notice."