Still life in the old dog yet

August is traditionally a quiet month in the world of politics as voters minds focus on holidays and the sun.

The media too look elsewhere for stories.

This year things have been a little different as we have been entertained to a pointless by-election in Clacton where Nigel Farage called  an unnecessary by-election so he could heroically vanquish a bin. We have also had lots of coverage of our new Prime Minister particularly as he grapples with the issue of early release of prisoners.

Amongst all the noise you may be forgiven for thinking that other political parties have disappeared. The past few days shows that when it comes to the Liberal Democrats there is still life in the old dog

Yesterday there were two council by-elections which both saw gains for the Liberal Democrats

In Yorkshire there was a gain from Reform

Almondbury (Kirklees) Council By-Election Result:

🔶 LDM: 43.9% (+14.5)

➡️ RFM: 27.0% (-10.0)

🌳 CON: 13.2% (+4.4)

🌍 GRN: 8.7% (-8.0)

🌹 LAB: 4.5% (-3.4)

🙋 Ind: 2.6% (New)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Reform UK. Changes w/ 2026.

Whilst in Devon we won a seat from Labour

Honiton St Michael's (East Devon) Council By-Election Result:

🔶 LDM: 45.4% (New)

➡️ RFM: 25.0% (New)

🌳 CON: 20.3% (-10.2)

🙋 Ind: 4.6% (-16.0)

🌹 LAB: 3.4% (-22.4)

🙋 Ind: 1.2% (New)

No LIB (-23.0) as previous.

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Labour. Changes w/ 2023.

We also gained two new councillors from defections from other parties

A Conservative councillor in Tewkesbury  defected to the Liberal Democrats after the “final straw” of the selection of an ex neo-Nazi as a Tory candidate in Somerset and Kemi Badenoch’s comments about councillors.

Heather McLain,  also said she has been very impressed with the “collaborative approach” of the Tewkesbury Lib Dems.

 

Whilst in Worcestershire a Councillor announced he was leaving the Green Party following ten years of service.

Explaining his decision, Martin Allen said:

After ten years of service, I have concluded that I can no longer remain a member of the Green Party.

Since there has been a change in leader at the top, events, including Green Leader Zack Polanski voicing sympathy for the thugs who were imprisoned for an act where a police officer, Kate Evan was hit with a sledgehammer, plus the poor response of the national party’s leadership, have caused me to reflect on whether my values still aligned with those of the Green Party. I have reached the conclusion that they do not.

I have decided to join the Liberal Democrats because they believe in doing the right thing for every part of our community. They have shown leadership by stepping forward to help run Worcestershire County Council after previous administrations failed local people.

 

What is particularly interesting is that these four new councillors represent gains from each of the other four main national parties. Our community based , common sense approach to serving our voters resonates across the spectrum of moderate people across the country