Reform's first gain from the Lib Dems since MaySix principal authority council by-elections this week, including Reform's first gain from the Lib Dems since May: Beechwood & Heath (Halton) Council By-Election Result: [IMG: ➡] RFM: 35.3% (-4.2) [IMG: 🔶] LDM: 26.3% (-18.3) [IMG: 🌹] LAB: 25.2% (New) [IMG: ◼] RES: 6.3% (New) [IMG: 🙋] Ind: 4.2% (New) [IMG: 🌳] CON: 2.6% (New)No GRN (-13.2) or LBT (-2.6) as previous.Reform UK GAIN from Liberal Democrats.Changes w/ 2026. — Election Maps UK (@electionmaps.uk) 2026-10-30T00:01:03.950Z Thank you to Douglas Macdonald for being the Lib Dem here, and scoring that promising first preferences increase. For what all this means for the running ... (more) |
Farage in hiding from the 'orange ninjas'Nigel Farage was absent from the House of Commons chamber for the budget speech on Wednesday and his claim that he failed to show to avoid a physical altercation with the Liberal Democrats has sparked the sort of storm on social media that you might expect. My favourite posts from that thread include; 'The famous violent thuggery of (checks notes) the Lib Dems. The trained orange ninja assassins from places like Wantage and Barnstaple. Yeah, right. He doth protest too much methinks.', plus 'Well, you wouldn't have wanted to start a fight with Paddy Ashdown, and we do have a ... (more) |
Council by-election results scorecard 2026-2027Here's the tally of seats changing hands in principal authority council by-elections held between the May 2026 and the May 2027 local elections: Con Lab Lib Dem Green Reform SNP Plaid Ind/ Other Net Con [18] +2 (+2/0) +1 (+3/-2) -1 (+3/-4) -6 (+3/-9) -1 (0/-1) – +3 (+4/-1) -2 Lab -2 (0/-2) [15] -1 (0/-1) -1 (+3/-4) 0 (+9/-9) +1 (+1/0) -1 (0/-1) 0 (+1/-1) -4 Lib Dem -1 (+2/-3) +1 (+1/0) [19] +1 (+1/0) +2 (+2/-1) -1 (0/-1) – +3 (+3/0) +4 Grn +1 (+4/-3) +1 (+4/-3) -1 (0/-1) [7] – +1 (+1/0) – – +2 Ref +6 ... (more) |
Printing againGateshead Lib Dems are having yet another action day on Saturday. That meant I was in the office this morning printing the survey we are delivering. The printing machine worked without a hitch. That's a first for me! (more) |
The orange one is in SunnisideThe scarecrow festival is currently taking place in Sunniside and Streetgate. This is my favourite. (more) |
Two early screen appearances by Patrick Stewart (1940-2026)The actor Patrick Stewart died yesterday. This story from the Hollywood Reporter concentrates on his appearances in Star Trek and X-Men, while some of us will think first of his appearances in Smiley's People and I, Claudius. In both he was a uniquely powerful presence. Over the years I have posted a couple of clips of him from even earlier in his career. Here he is in Joby from 1975. This was an adaptation of the Stan Barstow's 1964 novel of the same name. It was filmed in and around Horbury, the village near Wakefield where Barstow himself grew up. ... (more) |
For disabled people, a simple game of football comes with a terrifying price tag: their benefitsDisabled people are encouraged to exercise to protect their health and independence. Yet many fear that participating in sport could jeopardise the financial support they rely on. This is the Activity Trap, and it must end. For most people, playing football is an opportunity to exercise, enjoy themselves and connect with others. For some disabled people, however, stepping onto a football pitch comes with a frightening question: could this game cost me my benefits? Health professionals, ministers and sporting bodies regularly promote physical activity for its benefits to physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection. Adapted football and other inclusive ... (more) |
The Budget: another damp squib.I have long believed that the annual Budget is over-hyped on the UK. Up to the middle of the last century some MPs would wear top hats and morning suites in the House of Commons of Budget Day in order to "recognise" its importance. Today we are bombarded for weeks before it with speculation on what might be in it, then for a couple of days the media concentrate on how various sections of the population are affected. After that, save for some monumental bloomers (Liz Truss) or foolish errors ( the Starmer government's decision to increase the tax on ... (more) |
Caroline Voaden "shocked and bloody angry" at Nigel FarageNigel Farage claimed he didn't show up to the Budget because he's afraid of another altercation with Lib Dem MPs. I was there at the incident he's referring to. He grabbed my colleague and tried to move her out of the way, trying to barge past to be front of the procession to the King's speech. [image or embed] — Alex Brewer MP 🔶 (@alexkbrewer.bsky.social) 29 October 2026 at 15:52And who that colleague? It was Caroline Voaden: Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon, said in a social media post directed at the Reform UK leader that she was "still waiting ... (more) |
Budget verdict: A missed opportunity to tackle intergenerational unfairness and give working people a tax breakkFor the vast majority of people across the United Kingdom, this year's Budget may as well not have happened. After working through the Chancellor's announcements and examining the practical impact on household finances, it is striking how little has changed for ordinary working people. For many families, the only noticeable measures are a £100 payment for households in Council Tax bands A to D and the abolition of gas standing charges. Neither measure addresses the deeper challenges facing normal people. The £100 payment is welcome as far as it goes, but it barely touches the sides of the ongoing cost-of-living ... (more) |