Reply #3: No elections in Northumberland, sadly ...

[non sociopath skin]

... so the unbelievably incompetent Lib Dems and their Tory farmer allies will be able to bumble around for a little longer and sell off a little more of the family silver before they're annihilated.

Elsewhere looks interesting. In North Tyneside, where I work, Labour will have to be very unlucky or very incompetent or both not to take overall control (they're currently the largest party) and usher in "co-existence" with the Tory mayor.

Newcastle will be fascinating. If only the current downward trajectory of the Lib Dems appertains, then they might just cling to power. However, so reviled are they in the North East since taking Cameron's shilling that the bump might be much greater this year. It will also be interesting to see if the Tories regain a foothold in the "stockbroker belt" of Gosforth and Jesmond where they have no representation at the moment.

The Skin