EDITOR'S VIEW: Don't waste a vote dishing out metaphorical black eyes - put your community first

Forget Homes Under the Hammer… this is serious.

There will be no rain, little wind, and absolutely nothing worth watching on TV tomorrow - so get off your backside and vote.

Okay, I admit, I do have an unnaturally keen interest in the two-bed maisonette in Folkestone featuring in Homes Under the Hammer on BBC 1 at 11.30am but after that, there really is no excuse not to get out and exercise your democratic rights.

Given the amount of noise around politics over the last few years, it’s always surprising to see such low turn outs when it comes to the crunch.

Fewer than half of eligible in-person voters (43%) in South Tyneside found the motivation to shift their posterior from the settee at the last national elections in 2024, with the most lead-laden bums coming from Biddick and All Saints. Only 29.6% made that arduous trip to the ballot box.

Either there wasn’t a crowbar strong enough to get people out of their seats or it was some sort of show of anarchy whereby the people of Biddick were protesting the philosophical argument that no-one has the right to rule others. Or maybe Grant Mitchell was returning to EastEnders. I dunno.

Joking aside, we cannot let apathy rule.

Go to the polls when they open on Thursday, May 7. Everyone has something to say about the community in which they live. Take a look around you, and then ask who will best serve making your community better.

My only caveat is don’t vote as if it’s a national election. If you’re out to give Starmer a black eye or Badenoch a boost, forget it. Your local elections have nowt to do with those jostling for backbench supremacy in that there London. The national politicians may get bruised or boosted, but it’s you who has to live with the consequences.

Ask yourself: Who will look after my community’s best interests and then cast your vote. Think priorities.

You’ve got all day to vote. Although, I’d suggest after 12.15pm (when Homes Under the Hammer finishes) and before the quarter finals of MasterChef at 9pm. Like I say, think priorities.

Oh, and take your dog with you. We all love pictures of pets at polling stations.

Rebel MP proves it’s good to talk

Since we’re talking politics, it was good to catch up with Labour rebel Emma Lewell while she was in town the other day.

Well, I say ‘rebel’ now but when we chatted a couple of weeks ago, the South Shields MP was no such thing, but then a week is a long time in politics.

A few days after our chat she was in the headlines for defying the PM and voting in favour of an investigation into Starmer’s role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson! She lost the vote, but won some plaudits for speaking her mind and challenging her party’s leader.

Anyway, it wasn’t politics that was at the forefront of my mind after our meeting, but Emma’s commitment to a little known (to me, anyway) charity called Reengage. It’s an organisation that aims to make life less lonely for thousands of elderly people. It connects them with volunteers for a regular chat - a friendly voice that makes the day feel less empty. What a great idea.

Emma was due to give Ken, in Crawley, a call soon after I left. ‘What do you discuss?’ I asked, thinking Brexit, the Strait of Hormuz or maybe the cost of living crisis. ‘Last week it was slippers,’ she said.

That’s Rebel MPs for you, I guess.