(15 May 2026, 5:16 pm)54APhotography wrote Apart from failed DBS, and membership of various far right groups, the sheer number who never expected to win is evident. Overall the number of re elections could hit 100 at £35k each, Reform should be made to pay for every single one. Especially after fielding candidates who were actually dead.....

(16 May 2026, 3:08 pm)MurdnunoC wrote At least a dead candidate can't be held responsible for what they may have previously posted on social media, nor are they capable of making silly statements after passing. 

Speaking of which.

Two Suspended Reform Councillors Quit Party

Both are continuing as independents for Durham County Council (One based in Seaham, the other in Consett), so at least no costly byelections at the moment.

(16 May 2026, 7:55 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It’s not Harrison’s first bit of media attention. He’s the one who was investigated and fined £40,000 for hiring illegal workers.

(16 May 2026, 9:51 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I see the new regime in Gateshead have pledged to fix the roads in the town centre to make it easier to get to Newcastle.

(17 May 2026, 6:11 am)MurdnunoC wrote Unambitious, but also realistic and achievable.

(17 May 2026, 8:27 am)Busadvocate wrote In what way will "fixing the roads" be any different from the work that is already underway (having been denied funding for many years under the previous governments)? 

I do wonder if there is some risk that Reform will wish to reopen the A167/Askew Rd junction, which would definitely be a bad thing for buses...

(17 May 2026, 11:43 am)MurdnunoC wrote 'Fixing the Roads' isn't any different to the work that is already underway - which is why it's unambitious. However, if incremental improvements are made (eg. fixing potholes etc.), then they can claim to be delivering on their promises. At a national level, aside from 'stop the boats', another vague policy concerns the 'war on motorists'. Whilst reopening the A167/Askew Road junction would be a bad thing for buses, motorists in the area might consider that a good thing - another win in the Reform column.  

Overpromising and underdelivering, despite external factors including the lack of funding from this and previous governments. is a reason why people look for change when things fail to materialise. In Gateshead's case, how many times have plans for Metro Green or the Regeneration of the High Street been wheeled out and floated to the Chronicle, usually at the time of when local elections are due to take place, then are conveniently shelved until the next time when a little bit of political capital is needed?

(18 May 2026, 12:31 am)deanmachine wrote Wasn't Askew Road closed due to CAZ rules enforced on them anyways?

(19 May 2026, 4:24 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Another by-election in Gateshead. This one decided she had better things to do.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypzeyjzpdo

(19 May 2026, 4:36 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Greens are coming under pressure in London for exactly the same thing

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/fifth-newly-elected-green-party-councillor-steps-down-5HjdZL7_2/

(19 May 2026, 6:57 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It’s almost as if all these people who decided they would dabble in politics, just yesterday, haven’t thought it through.

(19 May 2026, 10:29 pm)Adrian wrote I think it's always been a done thing, in that parties will put up paper candidates to contest every ward.

Labour would always put up a whole compliment in Durham, and in some unachievable wards (back before 2024, lol), they'd literally stand any local member to fill a gap.

Tories and Lib Dems did the same, in every ward, though not always a whole compliment.

I guess what's changed lately is that everything appears up for grabs.