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So it's confirmed. We are to have another election on May 6th. As previously pointed out here, the Castlereagh council by-election got in first and will no doubt soak up most of the international media attention. But if the world's reporters have a few spare minutes, they may get to turn their thoughts to the other lesser contest between Messrs Brown, Cameron and Clegg.

Reading a press statement from the Conservative and Unionists' Ian Parsley last night, it's clear he would like the local contest to be a "mini-me" version of the UK election - vote Sylvia in North Down and get Gordon, vote Ian and get David.

But will the voters see it that way? Or will they make their decisions primarily on local concerns whether it be the parties' track records on power sharing and policing, the popularity of the outgoing MP, press coverage of party leaders' conduct, unionist unity and so on?

Although the UK wide mathematics points to the intriguing possibility of Northern Ireland politicians playing a "kingmaker" role in the next parliament, something I have written about elsewhere on our election website, history suggests local issues predominate in voters' minds when they go into the polling booth. You can read that piece

Since the Queen is hearing about the election on April 6th and we are going to the polls on May 6th here are two random facts linked to both dates. On polling day, Tony Blair will be celebrating his 57th birthday, and today Ian Paisley Senior is marking his 84th birthday. But who will be celebrating in the early hours of May 7th when the results start coming in?

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