`EVENING ALL`

In 10 days time, we`ll be having the elections for the first ever Police and Crime Commissioners and this evening we had the first in a series of `discussions` on local tv featuring the candidates who have put themselves forward for the job here in deepest Kent.

Not a good start.   The were all more concerned with putting down their opponents with accusations flying about concerning the alleged `independence` of the candidates, all of whom, it seems despite protestations to the contrary, have either some direct or indirect connection with assorted political parties.  So much for keeping politics out of policing.  We heard nothing about the role they might play, the priorities they might attach, what qualifications they think they might possess and, to paraphrase the wonderful Mrs, Merton, what it is that is attracting them to the job with a salary of up to £100,000 a year.

But at least it provides some light relief from the endless prattle that is the election for the President of the USA.   If anything sums up the American psyche in the current world climate it is the money driven electoral paranoia of a nation more concerned with razzmatazz, show biz and celebrity than ever it is with the consequences for the rest of the world of whoever might be `elected.`

As with the Crime Commissioner campaign I`ll be heartily glad when it`s all over and done with.