Nothing injects life into political debate more than an opinion poll that points to possible change. The Chronicle’s poll this week comes as the spring season opens and it has immediately stimulated debate at all levels, not least within the parties themselves.

When a Government has sustained a marathon for 14 years it is inevitable that, at some point, the electorate will express genuine frustration. Some voters no doubt will toy with the thought that the fresh air of change will accelerate the arrival of their own shopping list of hopes.

Curious issues have emerged – the fact that the PDP’s support is unchanged in most areas from the last election but rockets in the Rosia area where it takes over 4% of the total vote. This is actually where the PDP has seen its strongest moments in relation to the Rosia Tanks issue and high development there. It is probably an indicator that GSD voters have crossed to PDP in protest. PDP Leader Keith Azzopardi has clearly gained currency, but ultimately the electorate is mostly resigned to a two horse race.

A regular side comment made to those conducting the poll was disappointment in the political class generally.

If the poll generates a buzz in the Opposition it will probably also put them on notice that they can’t afford to be complacent and that much will still depend on the quality of the line-up they can muster for the big day.

Equally, for the governing party the silver lining will be that its complacency will be shaken and it may realise that it may yet not have fully learned the lesson from the last election - that voters want to be heard, talked with and convinced.

Government has failed to shake off its reputation for being inaccessible, for tardiness in decision making and, not least, of making the ordinary man (woman or gay) feel that if he raises his head above the parapet he will get rebuked.

The GSD does not really need new ideas, it simply needs to go back to its reasons for forming in the first place and to review its past manifestos. There it can tick its successes and note its unfulfilled promises too. An example would be the Chief Minister’s Upper Town walk many years ago and the fact that many homes there can still only be classed as slums.

But the frustration with the Government felt by some of the middle voters – those whose decision is critical - is no rock solid gift for the Opposition. The natural erosion of politics, that normally sees a Government decline, is slowed by the fact that the Opposition is still largely perceived as a previous government. Consistency may cement the party faithful but the middle vote looks always for hope and change. Whoever leads that party will need to convince people they will deliver on that.

If our politicians can avoid a dirty fight then the next election will almost certainly be hugely focused on domestic issues, but against a backdrop of expectation that relations with Spain can be held stable.

Government has a year to catch up on itself and, more importantly, relate to the electorate. The Opposition have that same year to convince the public that they have something new, not only to show that they would make a better government than the present incumbent but that they would be better than the government the GSD threw out in 1996.