ESTABLISHED political parties are concerned about the strong showing of the new force in British politics, the Apathy Party.

However, they should hardly be surprised with the high poll rating apathy achieves when indirectly they do so much to promote it. During election campaigns, the air is full of promises only to be followed when in Government by a multitude of excuses and requests for more time.

The conviction and aspiration in politics has been replaced with politics of the "sucks boo to you" variety, typified by the Punch and Judy show that is Prime Minister's Question Time. All matters major and minor are presented as black and white, as in they are wrong and we are right.

With no vision in politics, issues are not debated leaving only details to be argued over with masses of meaningless figures and projections.

If apathy is not to become the dominant force in future elections, politicians and politics will have to change or else no Government will ever hold an electoral mandate for their policies. Thus resulting in the rise of direct action and with it the consequences for democracy in this country.

Also, while apathy rules so will global business. It was once said that there was no such thing as society, well if business and market forces are allowed free reign then people will find what having no society is really like.

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

Updated: 10:45 Saturday, May 26, 2001