A serious bit and a not-so serious bit about local elections

Whatever your politics, the county elections on Thursday are important because an awful lot of services are provided at county level: and the MEP elections too because we are part of Europe and we need people who can ensure our tax-euros are spent sensibly on things that matter here. So it is surprising how many people regard anything other than a national election as a non-event.

I've been out canvassing for other people, and leafletting, not least because I do believe that democracy and the democratic process is a very precious thing. I've lived in parts of the world, in the Middle East and China, where there was no franchise - you didn't have a vote.

On a lighter note, despite email and blogs and all the rest of it, elections still require knocking on doors and talking to people, and also delivering leaflets. If you are just leafletting, then to keep the pace going, an ipod and some trainers come in handy: of course if you are canvassing you can't run round, because people tend not to vote for sweaty breathless candidates.

Here's my leafletting playlist:

1. Sweet Dreams ... Eurythmics
2. Hot'N'Cold ... Madison
3. Jump ... Girls Aloud
4. The Creeps ... Camille Jones
5. Valerie ... Amy Winehouse
6. That's not my name ... Ting Tings
7. One more chance ... Candie Payne
8. Heart of glass ... Blondie
9. Skater Boy ... Avril Lavigne
10. I predict a riot ... Kaiser Chiefs

all at 130 beats per minute!