However there must be some concerns about the definition of ‘area’. If it is too loose the safeguards could prove overly intrusive and burdensome, but if it is too tight the best intentioned efforts may fail to prevent some bad practices. Local knowledge will be vital, so the authorities will need to demonstrate they have listened to all sides.

I also feel there is some responsibility on the authorities to do more to actively engage candidates and agents in education about the electoral process, as the somewhat arcane bureaucratic methods currently create ample opportunity for individuals to disassociate themselves from what they are doing.

Electoral fraud in all its’ guises makes me absolutely livid.

Apart from having seen it first-hand before I ever got involved in politics it completely undermines the possibility of good decision-making.

My personal feeling is that a designated national party figure should be compelled to publicly account for the behaviour of their party members in some sort of constitutional court, as such a crime demonstrates an inability to set the proper example which their supporters are assumed and expected to follow – so in this case, as it occurred since he took over, I would be very interested to hear David Cameron explain it away and understand what he has personally done to prevent another occurrence in future.

How you arrive at power in many ways determines what you can do with it.