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Yippee, it’s spring! Days are longer and sunnier with daffodils brightening up gardens and cheering up public spaces.

New lambs are popping up like little balls of cotton across the picturesque Yorkshire landscape.

And on May 4th we’ll be flocking to the polling stations to choose our local councillor and show the less developed world how democracy is really done.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, hailstones are pounding against my window, ethnic tensions up North are even higher than in the Cameron camp, newspapers are full of political sleaze and no one seems to give a monkey’s about the local elections!

Well, that’s a little unfair. A few of us will slavishly cast our votes, despite ourselves, while listening to everyone else bang on about why they won’t be voting and who they won’t be voting for.

No doubt, Labour stands to be the biggest looser.

It’s unlikely that any of the Muslim men who turned out to march through Huddersfield last weekend will be turning out to vote in May.

And the loss of Asian votes locally could have as much impact on New Labour as the loss of Asian loans centrally!

Of course, the super-rich don’t need to bother themselves with trivia like democratic processes.

They known that while the people choose the Government it’s their money that decides the policies.

But it looks like the really clever money got in early and grabbed all the bargains at last year’s Parliamentary ‘buy-a-party-get-a-peerage-free’ offer.

In the meantime, if the ideologically homeless working class, who can’t afford controlling shares in New Labour Plc, really want a home they may have to wait until the next general election.

By then, if David’s change management skills have improved and he’s managed to gets some flesh on the bones of John Prescott’s policies, old Tory should end up somewhere to the left of New Labour.

And Tony, who could still be clinging to power in a convincing impersonation of a third-world dictator, should have completed the transformation of New Labour into old Tory.

For those who have survived a brush with their ‘modernised’ NHS trust, the thought of approaching a ballot box this May could leave them feeling sicker than ever.

And filthy wards, crotchety, demoralised nurses working marathon-length shifts while poor performing hospital bosses cruise to work in complimentary sports cars will drive a fair few left wingers further from the polling station yet.

All in all, turnout for the local elections, especially in the urban North, is likely to be low again.

So, those of you not joining us for a game of democracy on May 4th in preference of something more meaningful might like to read ‘80 Things You didn’t Know About the Queen’ instead. But do have a plan B, just in case!

To comment on this column contact Yvonne direct at yvonne@communitychameleon.co.uk or email us at news@24dash.com