I listened to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently where he spoke about populist politics and how, due to the lack of community in the country today these politicians fill the vacuum left by people no longer talking, debating and coming to their own views about the issues faced by us and our country.
It reminded me of my first year as a director with Colchester City Council, before I became chief executive. There was not just a coalition administration in place but an all-party administration. It was made easier by the fact that there were only three parties elected, unlike in today's more diverse set of parties represented in councils or central government.
