Tynesider montage

 

A few photos from last weeks Gateshead Lib Dem social at the Tynesider on Gateshead High Street.

Revised bar chart looks even better

 

Last week I posted a bar chart of council by-elections in October. It seems I jumped the gun. A revised bar chart has since been circulated which is an improvement on what was already a good result.

Every party expects to make some losses in council by-elections but since the May local elections the Lib Dems have defended 28 seats and lost only 2. For all my years in politics, I've never known the Lib Dems to have such a high retention level.

Although the number of Reform by-election defences is only 8, they held only 4, a retention rate of just 50%. Admittedly this is much better than the Conservatives and Labour but it does take the sheen off Reforms performance.

Back to the bar chart above: in October the Lib Dems clocked up the most wins at 16. Reform managed a respectable 13 but almost certainly lost more to resignations, suspensions, expulsions and defections. The Conservatives at three and Labour on two mean they are losing the majority of their by-election defences. Meanwhile, the long awaited Green surge is still awaited.

The face of Halloween

 

A bit of a fun night last Friday as we sat at home waiting for the next knock on the door. I think we overdid the sweets however. Five big boxes of chocolates ended up being too much. It looks like what's left over will go to the Sunniside History Society meeting on Wednesday to be raffle prizes! I suspect I won't be taking the mask with me.

Shipbuilding under review at History Society meeting

 

Sunniside History Society will be meeting at 7pm on Wednesday 5th November at Sunniside Social Club. The speaker is Dr Paul Stott who will be talking about the shipbuilding industry in the North East. I will be chairing the meeting.