But this one is slightly different. The relentless drip, drip of the Westminster expenses scandal has done huge damage to politicians and political institutions; and because most of the parties have taken hits, it seems likely that turnout will be affected.

Here, it will be the first electoral test of the deal done by Sinn Fein and the DUP in May 2007.

On the one hand, the SDLP insists the DUP is running rings around Sinn Fein while, on the other, Jim Allister's TUV claims that it is Sinn Fein which is running rings around Peter Robinson.

The Ulster Unionist Party, meanwhile, keen to recover lost votes, will be similarly keen to see if its electoral pact with the Conservatives is reaping any dividends.

Unfortunately, issues will, of course, play little or no part in this election. Most voters do not know and do not care where the parties stand on 'Europe', or on the multitude of issues that their MEPs deal with.

Sadly, the election will be a simple tribal headcount both within the two blocks - nationalism and unionism - and between the two blocks.