The most remarkable feature of the local elections is that so few of them are local. They are seen by voters and commentators alike as a verdict on Rishi Sunak, not on the councillors of Little Puddlecombe.

We talk a lot about community and participation, but when we have the chance to participate locally, few of us can be bothered to do so. Average turnout for local elections is just 33 per cent – far lower than in most continental democracies.

The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act in 2016 was intended to restore local accountability. It provided for directly elected metro mayors with powers devolved from the centre. By contrast with traditional council leaders, such mayors would enjoy a personal mandate to represent their communities. While I find it difficult to remember the name of the leader of Barnet, my London council, almost everyone in Greater Manchester can name their Mayor, Andy Burnham.

It is, however, precisely because metro mayors enjoy a large personal vote that the Conservatives can take so little comfort from the success of Ben Houchen in Tees Valley, and near success of Andy Street in the West Midlands. Their votes were as much verdicts on local performance as predictors of outcomes at a general........

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