Impact on elections of rubbish collection changes?

On a recent 'Have I got news for you?', Jeremy Clarkson joked to Krishnan Guru-Murthy that he had an easy job on Channel Four news: "Just turn up, read out the Guardian, and go home".

I feel a little like this blog should be retitled: "Wot I liked in the Guardian today"....but as my father-in-law would say "Doesn't matter".

The said organ today has a fascinating little piece on the impact of rubbish collection changes on the May 3rd results:

Local concerns, especially over rubbish collection, were thought to have made the difference in several council elections in England yesterday. Complaints about the move to fortnightly bin collections changed the political map in around 10 councils. In Bournemouth, Torbay, and Waverley, this played a part in the Tories' triumphs at the expense of the Lib Dems.

The Conservatives suffered in areas where they have tried out the system, notably North Lincolnshire, Hinckley, Bosworth, Salisbury, and West Somerset. The issue played some part in Labour losing Blackburn with Darwen, after 24 years, and damaged the party in both Telford and Charnwood.