We're sorry, but we're going to say it: this is general election year. The vote takes place on 7 May and right now, it's too close to call.
You might think your vote will change nothing, or 'politicians are all the same', but this will be an interesting election in London. We've counted eight of the capital's MPs retiring, so those constituencies get to choose brand new brooms. And many constituencies will be very tight: live in any of the following? Your vote really will count:
- Hampstead and Kilburn (42 vote majority, and Glenda Jackson's standing down)
- Hendon (106 majority)
- Brent Central (1,345 majority, and Sarah Teather's standing down)
- Sutton and Cheam (1,608 majority)
- Eltham (1,663 majority)
- Enfield North (1,692 majority)
- Brentford and Isleworth (1,958 majority)
- Westminster North (2,126 majority)
- Tooting (2,524 majority)
- Dagenham and Rainham (2,630 majority)
Lynne Featherstone in Hornsey and Wood Green and Simon Hughes in Bermondsey and Old Southwark may seem safe, with majorities of 6,875 and 8,530 respectively, but recent polls have shown a massive backlash against the Liberal Democrats in those areas and we expect them to be major battlegrounds.
How we're all registered to vote changed recently, so you may want to double check that you're still on the electoral roll. If you're not — and Labour warns that students in particular are in danger of having dropped off the register — you can now register to vote and update your details online, and apply for a postal vote. To be eligible to vote you have to be aged 18 or over on polling day and be a UK, Commonwealth or Irish citizen. At the time of writing the deadline for registering to vote hasn't been announced (it'll probably be towards the end of April), but don't leave it too late!
