Non-election day

As regular readers will be aware, today brings the non-event of the uncontested Parish Council election. However, Candidates of other Parishes and Districts will be going toe-to-toe in local elections across the UK. Those who subscribe to mainstream parties will be used as pawns in a media frenzy about ‘what would this mean if it were a General Election?’. SPOILER ALERT: it has been consistently shown over the years that it provides no insight whatsoever.

Due to the restrictions of the 1983 Representation of the People Act, I find myself walking a bit of a tightrope. I’m 99% sure it doesn’t apply to blogs (although web-based media is somewhat of a grey area); but under this Act it is illegal for media outlets (other than printed press) to report on UK elections whilst the polls are open, attempt to sway voters, or predict the results.

Due to the unerstandably small size of my following, and my predominantly international readership, I’m sure it is very unlikely that views expressed here could fundamentally undermine the democratic process – but why take the risk? Rather than leave my readers wanting, perhaps I could indulge them in party agnostic, vanilla, middle of the road tosh. However, should such content receive more likes and comments than the more standard posts (which to be honest would not be that difficult), I would need to take a long, hard look at myself, and consider the very future of the blog itself.

Instead, I will simply direct you to one of the greatest social media phenomena out there. So very British, so infrequent, but so absolutely wonderful. Ladies, gentlemen, netbots, I give you:

#dogsatpollingstations

Enjoy.