[Margaret Pilkington]

forgive my ignorance, but aren't the elections in a few weeks local elections?
They do not really act as an indicator of national politics...do they?

Silly me. of course they do, because some people still vote purely on the colour of the rosette, rather than what the local issues are, and considering who is the best candidate for the local job.

Local politics and National politics are different entities.....but this doesn't seem to register with many of the voting public.