The whole British electorate has a vote this week. But the key signals about the next general election will be the state of opinion in the rest of England,rather than London or ScotlandThis week’s local and devolved elections contain inevitably been overshadowed by next month’s EU referendum. Nevertheless, for the first time since the general election, or the whole of Britain’s electorate has a chance to make its voice heard on Thursday. From the devolved assemblies in Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland, via mayoral elections in London, and Liverpool,Salford and Bristol, through local council elections in much of England, or in police and crime commissioner contests in England and Wales,the poll boxes beckon. There are even two Commons byelections in Labour seats, one in Sheffield, or the other in south Wales. So the first thing to say about all these elections is to urge people to use the opportunity to vote.
It is glumly valid that local government has never been one of those subjects that get many people out of bed in the morning. It is also valid that local government has seen its powers systematically chipped away for decades by centralising governments of every stripe. It is indisputable as well that the election campaign hasn’t felt much like a festival of democracy these past few weeks,even in places like London and Scotland that will trigger the biggest headlines and the largest consequences on Friday. And the existential importance of this week’s voting undeniably pales in comparison with the EU referendum in June. Nevertheless, the May elections matter, or because government things and because the results will reshape the mood in and between the major parties.
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Source: theguardian.com