WE live in a democracy. We have the right to express ourselves, to practise our religion of choice and to vote for our choice of government.

Today millions of people will exercise their democratic right by going to the polls.

Sadly, millions more will not. They would rather stay in bed or watch television instead of casting their vote.

People who can’t be bothered often say their vote doesn’t make any difference. They are wrong.

Even if you live in a safe seat your vote is important. Safe seats do change hands. But if everyone just gives up nothing will happen.

The right to a vote is incredibly precious. It is something the women’s suffrage movement gave their lives for and a right our forefathers fought two world wars to preserve.

People in other parts of the world are still giving their lives for it to this day.

We would be the first to admit that this General Election campaign has been pretty dire. There has been too much focus on personality and not enough attention to policy. We’re not going to tell you who to vote for. That is something for you to decide in the privacy of the polling booth.

But the really important thing is that you make the effort to get out and make your vote count.

The recent terror attacks in Manchester and London should be a wake-up call about the importance of democracy.

What better reply could there be to the terrorists than to show them the ballot box is always mightier than the sword?