Extraordinary start to the day. Email in my in-box from Josie Irwin, a Labour councillor in Stroud Green ward, Haringey and former deputy leader of the council.

Attached was her letter of resignation from Haringey Council and from the Labour Party. The disillusionment with both was crystal clear in her letter of resignation and she left nothing to the imagination as to just how sick to death she was of Labour both locally and nationally. All credit to her – as she has been a loyal Labour activist for 27 years. Her partner worked for the local Labour MP Barbara Roche for many years too – and he too resigned from the Labour party earlier in the year. Like her, Iraq seemed to play a big part in his decision.

Of course, that leaves us with a January by-election in that ward. Fab! A golden opportunity for the Lib Dems to expand our councillor base. We have done a lot of work in the area over the last couple of years and hope to win – naturally!