Are you voting in the locals?

Not that I support Reform in any way whatsoever, but you could argue that is the case when voting for any party that isn't going to win.

Should all those whose preferred party isn't going to win in their constituency simply stay home?

The local elections are one of the few places where UKIP used to get anywhere. A few local councillors here and there, occasionally enough to hold the council to ransom.

I hope Purple Turtle is right and reform get nowhere, but one of the reasons I'm considering taking time out of my Thursday to vote is because the electorate I'm in used to be a conservative/UKIP stronghold but the boundaries were redrawn (mainly because the population has increased in the area.

If I don't at least take the minimal effort to effect change by voting, I can't really complain.

No. I don't support the Tory's post their regressive attacks on the self employed. I have never voted Labour and despite the liberals having a Golden opportunity to tell us they are different they have done F all. So no I won't waste my time

Same here. The fact my wife is currently in hospital and I've no clue regarding who to vote for, I'd either have to guess, pick my favourite colour, or spoil it. I've decided to spend the evening with my daughter. I must be a dim-witted societal parasite, oh well.

All of this is correct.

On the subject of not voting/making it compulsory:

MPs are not compelled to vote in the HoC; and often they choose not to. It's called abstaining.

And no one objects to that. But when a citizen equally exercises their right to abstain, some people think that's some kind of afront to democracy.

I’m voting green because I’m sick of blue and red.

seems alot of you are mixing local elections with general elections, in a local vote for the best to look after your area regardless of party, in general vote for who you think will lead the country best.
The two arent always the same

If you are intending to vote tomorrow, be better than Tory MP Tom Hunt, who seems to not be in possession of valid photo ID. Quite how a sitting MP doesn’t even have an expired passport is surprising.

Irrespective of party politics, can anyone tell me a tangible benefit of having a Police and Crime Commissioner?

What powers do they have and what do they actually achieve?

It seems to be a total non-job to me, but I'm happy to be enlightened.

Like most government jobs it sounds great when someone initially thinks of it, but the reality is it's a waste of money. We should be minimising government not maximising it, before you know it everyone in the country will hold a ridiculous position, I will no doubt be executive waste manager of xx A street, my town. Responsibilities involve the accurate grading of recycling and transportation of recycling and waste to a council approved pick up point in official receptacles every week.

The devolution of local councils we are seeing at the moment will be the same. More bloat, more duplication and no tangible benefit for anyone. Won't reduce staff at central government, will increase staff at local level with the added benefit of jobs being duplicated across councils, maybe the next step forward will be for each area to go to their own currency that you need to exchange when you cross the border.

The wastage of money has to be on purpose doesn't it? No one could be this inept? It seems governments main objectives now are to get through their terms without anyone realising taxes only ever go up steadily, national debt isn't really going down and never will, spending on useful projects we would benefit from seems to be off the table, but spending on nonsense seems to be the magic key to maintaining the status quo.