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Do you think many politicians opened their post this week to find Valentine's Day cards from their constituents?

I'm guessing not. The expenses scandal has hardly helped patch up the already tricky relationship between voters and party politicians.

Of course, in this atmosphere some have talked of a new type of politics - one where genuinely independent candidates stand up for their communities rather than cringe and cower under the party whip.

But of course that's easy to talk about, harder to achieve.

For every and there are countless examples of Independents who came, saw and lost their deposit.

For a start they're up against the party machines, who have the benefit of more money (usually) and greater firepower.

And then people will genuinely wonder what they can achieve if they are elected as one lone voice with little access to the levers of power.

So it was we featured on the this week.

Just what is it that keeps persuading people to try and break the political mould against all odds?

With some it may be about their own personal ego, but for many it is about some sense of duty to their community and a disillusionment with party politics.

And you can't fault some of the commitment. Businessman Peter Howe in Carlisle says he's putting £10,000 of his own money into his campaign.

Presumably many of the others will also be out of pocket (even if it's only the deposit) in order to mount a campaign.

The chances are that few, if any, will be elected, but I applaud anyone who wants to engage in the political process.

Of course though some could have an influence on events even if they do lose.

Campaigning lawyer Yvonne Hossack might not end up being Stockton South's MP, but if she attracts votes away from either Labour or the Conservatives, she could end up influencing .

The Moss Week:

Watching: - finally saw what's been dubbed by some "Dances With Smurfs" when my daughter dragged me to see it. She loved it. I was impressed by the spectacle, appalled by the dialogue.

Reading: . This is my book group's choice but it's very relevant to an election year, as it ponders what might happen if the vast majority of us just put blank voting papers into the ballot box (Over 80% do just that in the book). The Government is not amused!

Treasuring: I got all excited when I went to my pigeon hole today to see what looked like a Valentine's Card. Could an amorous viewer have been inspired to send one in? It was promising - on the front was a heart and the words, "Roses are Red, Violets are Blue."

The only hitch, on opening the card, the rhyme was completed with "I know 10 great things about Middlesbrough, do you?" Thank you for the thought , but I couldn't help being a little crestfallen. Sob.

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