All existing political parties - at least those who aim to cover the whole country - appear to seek a place in government, however unrealistic this aspiration might be. Take the Green Party for example, or the Liberal Part y (not the Lib Dems). Each has a set of policies covering every aspect of what government has to do; indeed members and supporters expect this. Yet neither party as yet has a single Westminster MP.

Realistically what influence can either party, expect to have on British politics under current circumstances, even if they do win some seats? Surely their function is to push the larger parties into adopting their policies, and for its MPs to try ensure these policies are properly implemented. Both parties could with advantage (for a while at least), forget about aspirations of government and focus on improving government from the outside.

There is a much smaller party that has succeeded in getting an MP elected in two successive general elections, namely Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern. A campaign was launched in 2000 to try to protect Kidderminster General Hospital from the impact of a disastrous PFI project. Dr Richard Taylor was elected MP for Wyre Forest in 2001 and was re-elected in 2005. Health Concern however does not have a full programme for government and does not appear to have aspirations in that directi on.

It is likely that at the next general election there will be more independent candidates fighting on health issues. Plainly they will have issues in common and will no doubt co-operate. Since government is wasting money and providing poor services in al l directions, we can expect more independent MPs elected on single issues. Since the underlying cause is the same, they should all be able to co-operate.