In terms of the number of councillors West Suffolk is the largest distric in the county - and it also appears to be the safest bet to stay in the Conservative fold.

West Suffolk has been operating as a single council for four years, since the merger of St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath councils.

There are 64 councillors, and four years ago the Tories won 38 of its seats. At present there are two vacancies.

The opposition is split with 12 Independent councillors, six West Suffolk Independents, four Labour Councillors, one Green and one non-aligned councillor.

The Independents and "West Suffolk Independents" do work together - but there isn't the kind of cross-party opposition group you find on some councils.

There are currently no Liberal Democrats on West Suffolk and unlike most other Suffolk rural districts, the Green Party has not made a major impact on this party of the county... so far.

West Suffolk is also the only district council in Suffolk where some seats are uncontested - where Conservative candidates have already been declared councillors because no one is standing against them.

So where will the contest be most keenly fought?

Traditionally much of the campaigning in rural West Suffolk is focussed on local issues and the characters of the candidates.

Independents are often elected in what are considered "safe" Conservative areas because they are local activists widely respected for their work in their local community.

It is often misleading to read too much into these contests because the result hinges far more on local personalities than political beliefs.

That could be one reason why Tory candidates in West Suffolk - as well as their colleagues in Babergh and Mid Suffolk - are branding themselves as "Local Conservatives."

Another interpretation is that they want to emphasise to their voters that they will be focussed on West Suffolk and want to have as little as possible to do with what is happening in Westminster!

Back in the mid-1990s when the Conservatives did lose their majorities on St Edmundsbury council, there was a strong Labour presence in both Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.

Today West Suffolk's Labour group comes exclusively from those two towns - but with just four councillors elected in 2019 it has a long way to go if it is to become a leading force in the district again.

Elsewhere in the county the Green Party has made massive gains in rural and market town council seats in recent elections.

That has not happened in West Suffolk. The only Green councillor elected in 2019 was Julia Wakeham in central Bury. She has been a well-known community activist for many years.

Elsewhere the party appears to struggle to make any impact at the ballot box - possibly because its target voters have been picked up by Independent candidates.

One thing that will change after the elections is that West Suffolk will have a new leader.

Bury Mercury: John Griffiths is to stand down as council leader - but hopes to be re-elected as a councillor.John Griffiths is to stand down as council leader - but hopes to be re-elected as a councillor. (Image: MARIAM GHAEMI)

John Griffiths was the first leader of the council - he had been leader of St Edmundsbury Council since 2003.

There is no clear successor in place to take over the leadership of the group - there are several potential candidates seeking re-election who could make a challenge for the role.

If there is a political earthquake and the Conservatives lose their overall majority, the opposition would probably have to form a "Rainbow Coalition" to replace it.

Or it is possible that some Independent councillors might support a minority Conservative administration.

West Suffolk might not be on the knife-edge that some other Suffolk councils are, but there is much for the parties to fight for on May 4.