Reading the Borehamwood Times this morning it occurred to me, as it often does around 11.30, long after the kids are at school and the second pot of coffee of the day has started brewing, that if we as local politicians appear to have no faith in the power of politics, what hope is there for anyone else?

Some local politicians seem quick to shout "foul play" or "why ask that question at election time?" or "this is a political football" every time something remotely contentious comes up. It’s becoming like a reflex reaction; unthinking but immediate.

These people are usually the first to start moaning about voter apathy as the public fail to take any interest in what's going on? These people seem to switch in or out of politics at whim; it’s a political ploy of course (ah the irony) but why do they keep saying it if it’s so fundamentally hypocritical?

This is a definition of the word Politics which pretty much gels with my understanding of the word:

"Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions".

No (political) footballs there and even if there was, I would still be up for a kick around.

Maybe these politicians need to be reminded where they are?

To help them, we could employ the services of 'Through the Keyhole' host Lloyd Grossman, to provide some clues as he walks through our civic offices.

"Seooooo what kind of building am I in? Let's look at the clues, there are pictures of Mayors all over the walls, there is a council debating chamber, there are politicians from the Conservative, Liberal and Labour Parties walking about the building, there is a department called Democratic services and, how quaint, they hold local elections. Seooou David it’s over to yeooooou.”

The waiting panel of celebrities then try and guess what Lloyd is trying to describe.

Cleo Roccas asks "is it the ballet?"

Bobby Davro says “is it a picnic?"

Just as everyone is starting to look a little nervous Christopher Biggins, jumps in with, "is it Politics?” before turning swiftly to David Frost, who has long since lost interest, and saying “hurry up I'm late for my table at the Ivy”.

We don’t live in a Utopian society where everyone agrees. In every walk of life when people get together to run or organise something, there is a possibility they will disagree on the plan or the way to achieve it, or whose turn it is to bring the biscuits.

There’s that old joke; if you put three economists in a room, you’ll end up with four opinions. If you put three politicians in the same room you’ll end up with one opinion but no-one will be able to agree who thought of it first.

Politics is everywhere; it's how things get done. It happens at work, on committees, in the pub, in sport, over a board game and especially at every level of Government.

For example, our much discussed Waste & Recycling schemes. I’m not stepping too far out of line by stating that most Conservative, Liberal Democrats and Labour Councillors agree that they want to see less rubbish going to landfill and more being recycled. However, we don't agree with the methods employed to achieve that common goal.

That's just politics at work, different ideas and alternative approaches, all for the common good. Shouldn't we be encouraging more politics on that basis?

Wouldn't it be nice to hear a local politician say just for once "this issue has become political, and thank goodness for that. It highlights that we don't necessarily have all the answers and are seeking the views of others”. Of course that would never happen, as it would show fallibility and humility, heaven forbid.

If we continually try to stigmatise politics from the inside, is it any wonder there aren’t more people wanting to get involved in politics, or at the very least even vote. Maybe people would be more inclined to become politically active if we talked about politics in a positive way.

Have a good weekend.