Keats defined autumn as the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, though I think he would have been surprised at the way mild weather lingers longer these days (not to mention the daffodils that have already been spotted down in the West country). A less welcome lingering comes from Council by-elections. There used to be an unwritten rule that these were not called in the run-up to Christmas, on the grounds that the weather would be too cold and the days too short for political canvassing, and that the voters might have more festive things in mind. This is no longer the case. Indeed, this December in London, in particular, sees an over-abundance of by-election fruitfulness.
This week there was a contest in Richmond: Barnes, which the Tories sadly held with an increased majority. Coming up this Thursday are elections in Southwark: Riverside (essential that the LibDems hold), Harrow: Canons (where the BNP are campaigning) and Hounslow: Chiswick Riverside. Even 20 December hasn’t been spared, as that’s when the party is hoping to make a big impact in Hackney: Springfield. So the call is out for all those who can to go and help. I know that there is talk of council by-elections being done away with all together, which is a step much too far. But couldn’t they be more sympathically timed?!
