We're now just a week from the local and mayoral elections – so prepare yourself for the barrage of media commentary about exactly what the results mean – not for local people, but for national politics.

Local elections are far more than just a popularity pageant for Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. But, for the national media, dizzied by thoughts of the forthcoming General Election, the simplicity of a mistaken opinion poll beats the complexity of local circumstances when it comes to coverage.