Chance for the public to make their mark

Of all the changes to British politics that have been suggested recently, the only one that would have any bearing on our situation would be fixed-term parliaments, which would mean that timing of elections would no longer be at the premier's discretion.

There is an election coming up on Thursday, not a general election but to the European parliament and, in many areas, local elections, too. The majority of voters who, say polls, want an election should vote. It is a chance to express anger at the scandal and to effect change, both in the EU and in mainstream politics — which must respond to the results.

There are two possible responses to the fallout from the MPs' expenses scandal, which has meant, according to one survey published today, that most people believe that most MPs are in politics for their own advancement. One is that the abstention rate will be far greater than in previous polls. Another, better, outcome would be that people vent their spleen by voting for smaller parties or, in local elections, for independents.

This may not be a damaging development, so long as no one nurses any illusions that this will be reflected in the general election. Mainstream politicians dislike any move towards the smaller parties on the grounds that this will favour the thuggish BNP. But the Greens are untainted by the expenses debacle and have voting power in the European parliament. The Euro-sceptic parties, the untried Libertas, and Ukip, may not have much in their favour apart from a negative attitude towards Europe but that may reflect how many people feel.

Of course, most votes will be cast in this election for mainstream parties, some as proxy for a general election. But it is far healthier for individuals to express their dissatisfaction with politics and their feelings about the EU at the ballot box than passively taking in the various prescriptions for change advanced by those in power.

The substance of the election is Europe, and this paper will be addressing the central issues before the election. But the important thing is that we embrace this poll as a chance to make our mark on politics and on events that have seemed, to date, outside the control of the people.

Knives out

The scourge of knife crime falls especially hard on London, particularly young black men. The report by the Commons Home Affairs committee saying that the problem now amounts to an "arms race", whereby boys and young men carry knives because they assume that others do, must be taken seriously.

The committee inevitably declares that the problem has to be addressed at a socio-economic level no less than as a crime problem — an approach the Mayor has supported. This is true, but in the short term, it is robust policing that changes things.

The MPs say that violent video games should be banned from young offenders' institutions: plainly they should. In London, the Met's anti-knife initiative, Operation Blunt 2, has had some effect during its first year. Some of its methods, such as the erection of metal screening devices at Tube stations, may be intrusive, as are targeted searches. But in the interests of saving young men's lives, those intrusions are worth any inconvenience they cause.

D-Day absence

The US president, Barack Obama, has stepped into the row about the absence of the Queen from the D-Day commemorations, by letting it be known that he will lobby the French government for her to attend.

Alas, HM will by now have other plans for the weekend. But with his gallantry Mr Obama has contrived to put the French government and our own Prime Minister to shame.