Lib Dems 'are official opposition' in North East
BBCThe Liberal Democrats are now the official opposition party in north-eastern England, according to their leader Sir Ed Davey.
During a visit to Newcastle to celebrate becoming the largest party on the city council, he also said they "held off a Reform tsunami in Sunderland and Gateshead" to take second place.
After the Lib Dems won 25 seats in Newcastle - narrowly ahead of Reform UK and the Green Party who each claimed 24 - Davey said his party now had a "heavy responsibility" to show they could "lead the city".
Davey said "we can't work with Reform" in any coalition because "we don't share any of their values", adding that he would also be "worried" about working with the Green Party.
'Difficult decisions'
Davey said he was "proud" of what the Liberal Democrats had achieved in the region and would speak with their group leader in Newcastle, Councillor Colin Ferguson, to "make difficult decisions" in the interest of the city.
Whilst also acknowledging "a few losses" in this week's local elections, he said: "This battle in the North East, which is between Reform and the Liberal Democrats, I think we will show the way and I'm confident we're going to keep growing."
