Democracy never ceases to amaze and Northumberland’s upcoming local elections are no different. Trends are emerging and while some follow the national trend, others seem to buck it. And while those things are happening, one trend gives voters an unfair time at the ballot box.
Rising Reform
In every single council ward up and down Northumberland, Reform UK is standing. They had five candidates last time around, now they’re standing in all 69. Just like in the last general election, where they broke into the political scene with a full slate of candidates and the support of over four million voters, here they look set to do the same. Nigel Farage even visited Morpeth recently, declaring Northumberland as an “easy win for Reform.”
Declining Lib Dems
Another trend we see in Northumberland that seems to copy last year’s general election is the decline of the Liberal Democrats locally. Where once upon a time North Northumberland returned a Liberal Democrat MP with a strong majority election after election, last election the Liberal Democrats came a distant fourth behind Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK.
Now, the same is happening in the local elections. Where once the Liberal Democrats were the largest party in Northumberland County Council, winning the highest number of seats nearly two decades ago, now they only have candidates in 41% of the wards; meaning that they either can’t or won’t get more than half of the seats filled with candidates and that voters in only 28 areas of Northumberland can vote for their party.
It’s curious to note that the Liberal Democrats performed well in the general election across England last year and look set to do so again across the country in the local elections. It seems that Northumberland wants to go against the grain with Ed Davey’s party.
A three-horse race
Across 24 areas of Northumberland, voters have very little choice. Their selection of candidates is made up of only three, each from a political party; Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK. No Greens and no Liberal Democrats and no independents. No one for the avid environmentalists to vote for, no one for those enthusiastic about Europe and electoral reform to vote for and no one for those who are sick of political parties to vote for. Not even, at the moment, anyone for socialists to vote for, be they hard-left or moderate. The choice is between the far-right Reform UK, the far-right Conservatives and a Labour Party that Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are determined to drag to the right.
In these 24 council wards, many voters have nothing and no one to vote for. They will likely stay at home and the disillusionment with politics will only grow and intensify as a result. Dark days for democracy.
The rise of Reform, the decline of the Liberal Democrats locally and three-horse race in a third of Northumberland’s wards. Essentially: the rise of the right, the decline of a centrist, pro-EU and pro-electoral reform party and a third of seats getting a very, limited choice. A choice that screams ‘a lot of the same’. Of course, with weeks still to go, there is still a long time for new trends to emerge as a week is a long time in politics. But, so far, Northumberland’s local election trends don’t boast much to cheer about.
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE BYLINES NETWORK CROWDFUNDER!
