In two days’ time, the political landscape of Bristol could be changed forever.

This is no exaggeration: expect to see some big name casualties as the results of Thursday’s local elections are announced.

The Lib Dems appear particularly vulnerable. Cabinet members Simon Cook and Guy Poultney, and mayoral candidate Jon Rogers, will all be fighting for their political lives.

With local elections traditionally a time to punish the national party of government, beneficiaries of a calamitous fall in both the Lib Dem and also the Tory vote are twofold.

First, there is the Green Party, who were busy campaigning on the Gloucester Road yesterday with London Assembly member Jenny Jones.

In Bishopston, another mayoral candidate, Daniella Radice, could take the seat; while in Ashley, Rob Telford is one to watch.

Here is Radice (in the red coat) with Jones:

And second, more independents could be arriving in City Hall to join Mayor George. For the first time, independents have aligned themselves together as Independents for Bristol, but remain – rather confusingly – not a party.

Independents standing on Thursday include Arnolfini head of finance and operations Brenda McLennan, former Evening Post newsdesk secretary Jane Westhead, Brisfest commercial director Oliver Mochizuki and Bristol Fawcett coordinator Helen Mott.

A third element to the equation is the impact of UKIP in these elections, but despite polling well in recent by-elections, they remain an unknown quantity in Bristol.

A sea change is certainly on the horizon, but it will not be as dramatic as it could be. We will have to wait until 2016 for all 70 councillors representing each of Bristol’s 35 wards to be elected at the same time.

Currently, only a third of councillors are elected with elections taking place for three successive years out of four.