I'm standing in a local election today – and won't be overshadowed

Standing in a district council by-election that's happening at the same time as a general election is like existing in a parallel universe, one in which the local is completely overshadowed by the national. Should I talk about parliamentary sovereignty on the doorsteps, or the lack of loo rolls in the local school? Johnson’s Brexit deal, or the closure of the local library?

The opportunity to stand came about when one of the local Tory councillors in my Warwickshire district council was forced to stand down for something he should not have done, and so a by-election was called at short notice, with the chosen polling date being the same as that of the general election.

Having recently retired, I wanted to put something back into my community. I considered charity work, but felt that I could make a more direct and positive impact in local politics. Yes politics can be a bit grubby these days, but the sort of ground-level politics I want to do – the kind whose main is improving local residents’ quality of life – is more similar to community work.

Yet it now feels like I am operating below an enormous storm cloud, trying to dodge the multiple lightning strikes of national controversy. When knocking on people’s doors – which can be a rather nerve-racking experience these days – I find that first contact usually reveals a deep aversion to either Johnson or Corbyn, and sometimes both. More predictably, the same is true of Leave and Remain. I quickly try to escape these stormy subjects and move the conversation onto local issues.

This is not always easy as the raw emotion on many doorsteps about the general election is palpable. However, once I start talking about the everyday challenges facing people in their day-to-day lives – a far cry from debating some of the lofty themes that lie within the Brexit debate or the flaws of some of our self-serving national politicians – people begin to soften.

I try to get people to focus on their local failing school, overstretched hospital, potholed roads, increasing crime rates, growing homeless population and a host of other ordinary but important issues. Once I have got people to change gears, they will engage on local issues which they do care deeply about and the conversation starts to become rewarding. Small things can make a huge difference, and local councillors get a lot of small things done. By contrast, it will take years to truly get Brexit done. In the meantime, I will try and make a small but positive difference to my neighbours’ lives, hopefully giving something back as the storm clouds swirl overhead.

Hugh Foden is a Liberal Democrat candidate in the Warwick Myton & Heathcote ward by-election