Support for the Lib Dems nationally has jumped over the last few months and we are now closer to Labour in the polls than at any time in the last 22 years with 22% of the vote.

This must in part be down to Vince Cable who has been head and tails above the Conservatives and Labour in his view of the current economic crisis, and his solutions.

In County Durham we are still the Official opposition to Labour with 27 County Councillors.