Right, so how can this chap win by-elections when the main parties don't even bother showing up? Utter farce.

What’s the point of an election if the major parties can just boycott it and let anyone win? Seriously, it’s a bit of a laugh, isn't it? If the big boys can’t be bothered to turn up to defend their turf, then we need to make them. It’s not fair on the voters who do bother to go to the polling stations, is it?

My proposal is simple: if a candidate wins a seat with less than, say, 40% of the vote, and the other main parties have fielded candidates but didn't get a decent showing, there should be an automatic re-run. This time, though, the major parties have to put their best people forward, no excuses. None of this "we’ll focus on the general election" nonsense. If you’re going to stand, you’ve got to fight for it.