Why does this year's election feel so different?

I have been trying to work out why this local election campaign feels rather subdued.

Having been a candidate in every local election since 2018, it does feel strange not being on the ballot paper this time. However, I think the reasons are rather broader than that.

At the beginning of the year, we were preparing for the real possibility that the general election would be held on 2 May. We began to march up that hill, but then had to march down again. One shouldn’t underestimate the energy that goes into running an election campaign, and I sense that people in all parties are saving some energy for the bigger event.

There are also Southampton factors at play.

Just one year on from all out elections, which saw Southampton Labour elected with a very large majority, there is perhaps an acknowledgement that even if several seats change hands, Labour will still be in control.

The Labour Group will also be acutely aware that they face the biggest challenge of their political careers to get Southampton City Council to a point of financial sustainability. If they thought the last few months were arduous with its stressful budget setting process, then the coming months will offer no respite at all.

Mired in the continuing disruption to waste collections, one suspects that canvassing as a Labour candidate is not exactly easy either.

And of course, Southampton’s Conservatives have gone into the campaign with their longstanding leader standing down, and no doubt still demoralised by the scale of their defeat last year.

As Liberal Democrats we continue to be optimistic. As a new Group on the City Council, we have been able to change the dynamics. We aim to consolidate and expand our Group so we can continue to make a difference. The wider campaign may be subdued, but there is lots for us to do over the next fortnight to make sure that happens.

We are working hard to keep up our momentum in Bassett, while we are also running a full-scale campaign in Swaythling ward. Every time we knock on doors in Swaythling, we are finding more and more voters who are deeply unhappy with the way Labour is running the council. The election there is looking very close between our Lib Dem candidate Thomas Gravatt and the Labour Party. If you are able to help please let me know.