The Scotsman today has excellent analysis of what is likely to happen in the local elections in Scotland ("Labour's 'Council Monopoly' about to crumble").  Spice is added to these elections as they are the first local elections in Scotland to be held under the STV form of proportional representation. The Scotsman quotes extensively from an Electoral Reform Society report about the likely impact of the new system on the 32 Scottish boroughs.

"According to calculations for the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) based on The Scotsman's March ICM poll, Labour would, under the single transferable vote (STV) system, control only Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.

The major winner in party terms would be the SNP, which would retain Angus and take four new authorities - Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Ayrshire, and Perth and Kinross." The Scotsman

Elsewhere in election coverage:

Most papers cover the bid by David Cameron to Ming Campbell yesterday over the issue of Greg Dyke as an independent candidate for London Mayor, supported by the Lib Dems and Tories.  The Independent seem to it pretty accurately in "Dyke rejects offer to run for Mayor of London against Livingstone" The Guardian have much the same take in "Dyke rebuffs Tory approach to run for Mayor of London" but the FT's angle plays up the bad consequences for Cameron describing it as "a humiliating setback" ("Cameron's hopes for Tory Mayor dashed") - whilst the Daily Mail suggests it was the Lib Dems who were all over the place ("'Timid' Ming blamed over failed Dyke-for Mayor plot")

Tony Travers has written an analysis of the parties' prospects in the locals in The Telegraph, ("Tories have everything to play for") There isn't much new here - but the fact that the media consensus is now that the Tories must reach more than the 39% they achieved last year is worth noting.

Finally, The Telegraph picks up on Le Pen's attack on Sarkozy's private life ("Le Pen hints at Sarkozy marriage problems") Nothing particularly unusual in campaigns getting dirty in the closing stages, but a strong finish from Le Pen might actually shore up left wing support around Royal.  All the polls under-estimated Le Pen support so much last time.  When he snuck into the final round the shock was palpable.  An electoral flutter with one of the many candidates to the left of Royal - or even with candidates in the centre - suddenly seems less appealing if Le Pen seems capable of pulling it off again.