'Use your vote' website launches

'Use your vote' website launches

Click here for www.x2003.net

Another campaign has been launched to encourage voters in Wales to take part in the assembly election on 1 May.

It is backed by names from the worlds of music and sport, and its website has promised to take a quirky look at our potential leaders.

The x2003.net site included a series of questions to the leaders of the four main political parties in Wales.

Their answers were promised to reveal not only the policies they were trying to sell to the country, but also more personal information, such as their favourite films and major influences.

'Stop the rot'

The site has been launched as part of a joint initiative by three Christian groups in Wales - the Evangelical Alliance, CARE and the Welsh Council. They have also organised a series of husting meetings to enable people to question politicians.

The site includes endorsements from musician and broadcaster Mal Pope and Newport rugby player Adrian Garvey.

Turnout was 45% at the first assembly election in 1999, and there are fears that it could be lower this year. The Electoral Commission has also mounted a campaign to persuade people to vote.

Politics as usual does not seem to be working

Daniel Boucher, Evangelical Alliance

Daniel Boucher of the Evangelical Alliance Wales said the idea was to try to engage people with their politicians and to attempt to "stop the rot" of falling voter turnout.

"Given the fact that politics as usual does not seem to be working, we are seeking to do things differently and ask questions that aren't just about politics," he said.

Gorbachev

Iestyn Davies of Care and the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, said: "We want people to be able to gain a fuller and more 'human' understanding of the leaders of the four main parties, and so we've asked them about their favourite films, their hobbies and their greatest political influence".

First Minister Rhodri Morgan told the site that his favourite film of recent years was The Hours, starring Oscar-winning Nicole Kidman.

Conservative Nick Bourne revealed that one of the greatest influences on him was the former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev.

Mal Pope said: "We must not take our democratic heritage for granted, but celebrate it by using our vote on 1 May."