Gateshead’s newly elected Reform council has found to its own cost that 11 days is a long time in politics.

Full statement

That’s how long it took for one of their councillors in the High Fell ward to resign.

A lot of people are rolling their eyes at the lame excuse for the resignation. In a letter sent out to households – not even written by the councillor throwing in the towel – it cites that her business interests have now grown across the south of England. So clearly she doesn’t have time for us in High Fell!

We have been out on campaign stalls and knocking on doors to canvass support for our Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate in the by-election.

The only hostile response we have had was from a woman who thought we were Labour. Once she realised we weren’t, she was interested in our policies, including opposing all cuts in council services.

Just before we knocked one young woman’s door, a Reform leaflet had been pushed through her door. She had immediately pushed it back outside. We found it on the ground!

The young woman was very interested in what we put forward. We’re hoping she gets involved in our campaign.

We’ve had quite a few people come up to say they’ve voted for us for years, including a retired member of Unite. He supports Sharon Graham, the union’s general secretary. But wished she’d stop funding Labour, rather than just threatening to.

Our campaign stalls are attracting young people. One 16-year-old told us everyone else in his house was Reform, but he definitely was looking to socialist ideas.

Even people who said they had voted Reform, and intend to do so again at the 9 July by-election, were prepared to listen to us. Many of these people could definitely be won over by a mass workers’ party, fighting for socialist policies.