community politics

An ongoing emphasis by candidates in general and parliamentary elections upon local, rather than national, issues and policies, the suggestion being that national parties pay insufficient attention to local concerns and campaign only during the formal campaign period. The term became popular in the UK following the successful adoption of such tactics by the Liberal Party in the Sutton and Cheam by-election (Dec 1972), and the general election of 1974.

Community politics is a movement in British politics to re-engage people with political action on a local level.

Most developed amongst the Liberal Democrats but adopted to some extent by the British Greens, other parties, and Independents.

Community Politics is based on small-scale action on local political issues. A 'community politics' response would be for local councillors to lead a group of people to clear the rubbish themselves, then inform the local community through a newsletter.

The result is a stronger local community who feel that their representatives are achieving something, and a better chance of even the most under-resourced local authority taking the time to stop the problem in future.

Community politics principles can be applied to any area and by any party. The keys are local action on residents' concerns and effective communication with local residents through newsletters and face-to-face contact. Parties which espouse community politics often meet with electoral success (e.g.