As the youngest councillor in Swindon, and national chairman of Conservative Future, I try to encourage the young to not only vote, but also to be involved in politics.

One of the greatest barriers the young find to politics is the opportunity to be taken seriously. With voter apathy amongst the young on the increase, the serious political parties have taken great strides to try to reverse this trend.

A leaked memo from the Lib Dems was reported in the national press, describing how they were so desperate to find candidates to fight the May elections that they were willing to offer students a free round of drinks in return for standing 'for a laugh'. The students were to be assured that they would have no chance of winning, they did not need to be a party member and could even choose the seat they fought by drawing it out of a hat!

This is disgraceful.

Across the country there are hundreds of young candidates who wish to be taken seriously.

The Lib Dems are undermining their efforts by cynically flooding elections with young candidates who clearly have no desire to take the process seriously.

Coun Justin Tomlinson

Abbey Meads

Ravenglass Road

Swindon