Who do we think they are?

4:37am Friday 18th April 2008

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HOW well do you know the people who represent us?

With the council elections approaching on May 1, we went out and about in Southend and Basildon to see how in tune people are with local politics and their MPs and councillors.

Low voter turnouts in general elections and even lower ones in local elections are seen as a sign of a growing disengagement from politics, especially among the young.

To test this, we showed ten people in each town, of varying ages, pictures of their member of Parliament and the leader of their council and asked if they recognised them. We also threw in a local celebrity for good measure.

It seems people in Basildon are more switched on politically than their seaside counterparts.

Half of those asked recognised their local MP compared to about a third or less in Southend.

This meant Labour MP Angela Smith polled as well as Basildon-born TV star and pin-up Denise van Outen. No one in Southend recognised the council leader, Tory councillor Nigel Holdcroft, and just one pointed out Rochford and Southend East MP, James Duddridge.

But two in Basildon spotted their leader, Tory Malcolm Buckley.

And when it comes to local celebrities, it seems reality TV and West End star Lee Mead has some way to go before beating his other half Denise van Outen in the fame stakes.

Only three people picked him out in Southend, but five recognised Denise in Basildon.

But this made Lee, along with Southend West MP David Amess, the best-known person in the Southend part of our survey.

Top marks go to Dee Ireland, 24, of Little Lullaway, Laindon, who spotted all three people in the pictures she was shown.

She said: "I work for the Thames Gateway project so I have to know who the local politicians are. And I obviously know who Denise van Outen is.

"I'd know Angela Smith anyway, because I read the Echo every day."

Recognition factor

SOUTHEND

David Amess, Southend East MP - 3/10

Lee Mead, West End star born in Eastwood - 3/10

James Duddridge, Southend East MP - 1/10

Nigel Holdcroft, Leader of Southend Council - 0/10

BASILDON

Angela Smith, MP for Basildon - 5/10

Denise van Outen, TV star born in Basildon - 5/10

Malcolm Buckley, Basildon Council leader - 2/10