So, there’s an election. Everywhere you look there’s posters and billboards for candidates and parties, and in every pub and café bar people are talking about it and saying, ‘Please make it go away soon’.

Yes, here in Ireland they’re in the middle of their European elections and they do things a bit differently.

On every lamppost there’s 3 or 4 massive poster boards each with a smiling be-sloganed picture of the candidate and why you should vote for them. ‘Declan O’Houlihan -He’s great!’, ‘Mick Hogan-a man with a slogan’, ‘Maura McSweeney-I’m better than the rest of these gobshites’, ‘Podge Doonican-Why am I even standing!’.  And not just on every lamppost. The roadside is lined with them to the point of it being a potential hazard to road users as you get over interested. ’Paddy O Toole’, ‘Bridget McAvoy’, ‘Michael O Shea’ ‘Dangerous Bend’ …’Dangerous Bend??! Aaarghh!

But of course, it’s not just here in Ireland where they’ve got a future to think about. Back in England apparently there’s an election too.

The guy in the Tom Crean Bar in Annascaul said to me ‘Oh Jesus, give me someone like your man Keir Starmer who says nothing and then gets on and does just that and then we can get it all over with’.

The Americans I’m chauffeuring around the green and surprisingly unrainy emerald isle couldn’t understand why PM Sunak has chosen to call an election now. He has the power to choose. So, he’ll choose the time he thinks best for him. “So….you mean things can only get worse? You mean now is the best time and things will simply not get any better?? Good pitch guy…”

Good pitch Rishi….