This involved offering three prizes worth up to 250, including a games console, DVD player and a bike, in a draw for school children who persuaded their parents to vote. "We need your help," began the council's leaflet explaining the scheme. "Adults have the right to vote, but often don't bother."
A council spokesman said the initiative involved "providing a valuable experience to children in explaining democracy and promoting active citizenship".
What lesson? That even adults cannot see the point in voting, unless their kids pester them to?
The National Union of Teachers was appalled, calling this "bribes to children". But, while there are many issues, such as the message it sends to kids, offering three Sefton pupils out of some 19,900 the chance to win a prize hardly amounts to bribery.
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