Regular readers will know that for 21 of the last 22 years I have worn two hats: MD/COO/tea boy here at Terra Infirma, and a Lib Dem Councillor for Ouseburn Ward on Newcastle City Council. On Friday the latter came to an abrupt end when I lost my seat, badly, to… the Green Party.

Ouseburn has the biggest student population in the City and a significant number of mobile young professionals. This 18-24 demographic tends to vote on national rather than local issues – and not for centrists – but it usually only becomes a problem for us if there is a General Election on the same day. However, with the media turning these locals into a referendum on the future of the Prime Minister, turnout shot up to something closer to a General Election level and we got washed away by a green wave.

So, is this the end? Given I feel like I have Ouseburn in my soul (so have no intention to find a seat less vulnerable to national trends), I’d really need the Green Party to implode under its new weight to get back in. This is not beyond the bounds of possibility as the respectable old Greens, ie the Caroline Lucas tradition, have been overwhelmed by a much more radical, and much less green, far left faction. Here in Newcastle, the Greens suspended 3 candidates for anti-semitism and should have suspended two more. One of our candidates in another ward reports being spat at and subject to throat-slitting gestures by a Green activist. An assault complaint has been made to Police by another party’s candidate in the same ward. Tree-huggers these people aren’t, and my contacts on the nice wing of the Green Party are most unhappy about it – I think Zack Polanski has created a monster he can’t control.

Me and my ward colleague’s loss was the only downer on an otherwise good night for the Lib Dems both nationally, where we were the only ‘big three’ party to make gains, and in Newcastle, where we became the largest party on the Council for the first time since 2011. Shame I’m not part of it, but I have been asked to advise on Sustainability issues as and when.

But, to quote Marge Simpson, let’s turn that frown upside down. This situation gives me two opportunities:

• I have much more time and energy to put into Terra Infirma where I will be able to make more substantial change happen than in my 13 years as Opposition Spokesperson on Sustainability where I could only make incremental improvements via interventions from the sidelines (the City’s EV charging strategy being a notable recent win).
• I’m free to bring my 21 years’ Local Government experience to my clients without fear of conflict of interest. I’ve always kept clear blue water between work and politics, probably being much too cautious, but this week I’m rewriting my CV to emphasise my political experience and achievements, like being instrumental in getting Newcastle designated the UK’s most Sustainable City two years running…

So, on one level crushing disappointment, but on another, new opportunities!