IF you believe the bookmakers, the result of the General Election is a foregone conclusion.

Before an official campaign word has been uttered in anger by any party, Labour is long odds-on to win on June 7.

A combination of Tony Blair's healthy lead in the opinion polls and an increasing degree of public cynicism of politics and politicians threaten to make the turnout on polling day the lowest on record.

In such circumstances, Mr Blair is right to warn his party of the dangers of complacency. He is understandably wary of potential Labour supporters not bothering to vote.

A low turnout is not in the interests of any party, and not in the interests of democracy as a whole.

As always, we will encourage everyone to exercise their democratic duty on June 7.

The onus is on individuals to determine how they wish the country to progress over the next four or so years, and vote accordingly.

But the onus is also on politicians over the next four or so weeks to enthuse individuals into choosing the party which most meets their aspirations.

If, like in 1997, one in four adults stays away from the polling stations, it suggests that the main parties are out of touch with a sizeable chunk of the population.

Over the course of this campaign, politicians have a unique opportunity to restore some of the faith the public has lost in them; to earn the respect they ought to enjoy.

While some decry the impact of the mass media on elections, no one can deny the access it gives the public to politicians, and vice versa. It is difficult to imagine how parties and candidates managed to get their message across to voters before the dawn of the television age.

It is ironic, therefore, that the growth of TV has corresponded with the growth in apathy in voting.

That suggests the public is disillusioned with the emphasis on slick presentation, and perceives that the emphasis on policies and substances is too diluted.

If the political parties need any encouragement to go about reasoned debates during the forthcoming campaign, then they should look no further that the poll of marginal constituencies commissioned by The Northern Echo.

It shows that 31 per cent of voters remain undecided. They will not be won over by endless bouts of gimmickry and gestures, but by substance and integrity.