Election overload

I do hope that people will not be so fixated on all the media coverage about the General Election in June that they forget about the poll for the County Council election on May 4^th!

A general election has never before been called in the middle of a local government election campaign and there is a very good reason for this.  Humankind cannot bear too much politics, and, ignoring for a moment those among us who cannot get too much, most switch off if overburdened by political overexposure.

I can understand why Teresa May needs to go to the country now, and go quickly.  Had she waited another two weeks to announce her decision she would have had to fight the election after the European Commission had set out its negotiating position, which they have stated will be after 8^th June.

However, once again local government matters have been overshadowed and diminished by the action of the Centre and many of us who are involved at the local level find this frustrating.  It will be interesting to try to gauge whether the imminent General Election has in fact made any difference to the outcome on May 4^th.  Looking at the relative turn out figures could be instructive in this respect.   

However, do remember if you feel you can’t face a trip to the polls,  what happens at the County Council does matter, and the person you choose to be your County Councillor may have a direct impact on your life, and will certainly affect the life of your community.