On Thursday, May 22nd voters across the UK will got to polls in the European Parliamentary elections to choose 73 MEPs in 11 multi-member regional constituencies. Each region has a different number of MEPs based on its population – the West Midlands, the constituency under which Ross is categorised, returns seven MEPs. It's hard to gauge what direct impact these elections will have in Ross. The MEPs are elected to represent the interests of the region and pass laws that affect many aspects of our lives, but several readers commented on the Gazette Facebook page that either they had no idea who was standing or had heard from few, if any, of the parties standing. Read Robert Powell's insight into the candidates and parties in this week's Ross Gazette.