Letter: When ‘Political’ Isn’t the Same as ‘Party Political’

Published on: 28 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 28 Feb, 2026

From Gavin Morgan

In response to: There Are Few Choices That Are Not Political

It is interesting how debates sometimes drift. A discussion about whether political party organisation is helpful at parish level now appears to have become a broader philosophical claim that “non-political people do not exist”.

It is well established in UK electoral studies that roughly a third of voters switch parties at different elections. Research from the University of Liverpool shows that a significant proportion even change their mind during a campaign. Call them what you will, they are clearly not rigidly defined by party identity.

The irony is that I have not actually described anyone as non-political. The original question raised — by Mr Fern (The Question Is – Will Candidates Prioritise Community or Party?) and others — was whether party-political dominance is helpful at parish and town council level. That remains the point under discussion.

Parish and town councils operate on a small scale, often dealing with practical matters that benefit from flexibility and collaboration rather than ideological alignment.

That is not a claim to superiority, nor a denial that values exist. It is a structural question about how best to organise local governance.

Surely we can debate that without suggesting that those who favour a less party-dominated model are somehow dishonest or naive?

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