Find out what happened, after our broadcast in Leeds

For the next few weeks, Declan will be out on the road, finding out what really matters to ordinary voters across the UK.

He's already nick-named his transport "the flying lozenge".

And, he's just filed this web-log, from his second stop, in Leeds:

Anyone who tells you politics doesn't get people going is talking to the wrong people.

We had two unexpected guests this morning during our broadcast in Leeds. Both had seen us on the TV and were determined to come along and say their piece. And both of them were angry - in fact, absolutely furious - about politics.

The subject that got them going was anti-social behaviour, and the use of special court orders - ASBOs - to curb it. By anti-social behaviour we mean everything from graffiti to vandalism to violent neighbours. The vast majority of ASBOs are issued for harassment of residents and verbal abuse.

Tackling yob culture

The estate we were at, Little London, is one of the toughest areas in Leeds and suffers from all that and more. It's not unique: there are cities, towns and villages across the country that suffer from similar problems.

But this estate has seen a crackdown. More than 60 people were issued with ASBOs last year; at least 30 more have followed since. According to local community leaders, the estate has the dubious record of receiving the largest number of ASBOs issued on a single day.

And guess what? Crime has fallen.

The police reports show the number of offences in that part of Leeds has fallen by 18 percent. That's 7 fewer robberies a month; 46 fewer burglaries.

The local residents who spoke to us were all in favour. They said the streets were safer. They were less frightened about walking around at night.

Making their views felt

But our unexpected visitors were ferociously of another view. One, a young lad in a knitted hat, was trembling with pent-up rage as he denounced ASBOs as "summary justice".

The other, a woman who appeared just moments after our last broadcast, was furious that politicians and the media concentrated on crime, and not what she saw as the causes of crime.

She said yobbishness could only be tackled through education and skills that would give people a fresh start, not court orders that moved the problem elsewhere.

Passionate beliefs

Two things struck me about their comments. The first was the passion and energy behind their opinions and their determination to make their point.

Remember, these weren't invited guests on the programme - they went out of their way to speak to us, leaving their warm homes on a bitterly cold day to travel to our broadcast point.

The other thing was their sense that absolutely no-one was listening to them. They felt utterly cut off from political discussion, and could see no way of joining in.

Many of us grumble about politicians knocking on the door during the election. I'll bet our two visitors would relish the opportunity to get their point across.