While the Conservatives have made stopping the County Hall move central to their party's countywide manifesto, Liberal Democrat candidate Alison Byard has confirmed that the Lib Dems 'cannot promise' to stop the County Hall move. The demolition of the council headquarters in Morpeth and the £80 million project to build a luxurious replacement in nearby Ashington has been the flagship policy of the Labour Party over the last four years.

Liberal Democrats have faced criticism at various points over the last four years, with Heather Cairns of Alnwick voting against an early call-in of the decision to relocate, and most recently with Douglas Watkin of Norham and Islandshire voting to allow the demolition of the current building in Morpeth. Some Lib Dems have also propped up the Labour minority administration over the last four years by supporting their budgets, leaving voters unsure what is left to distinguish the two parties.

With elections looming on May the 4th, the Conservative Party has taken Byard's comments as an opportunity to clarify their own position. Conservative Councillor for Morpeth North, David Bawn, said: 'I don't think Alison's comments have surprised anyone. This election is a clear choice between the Conservatives who will work to stop the move of County Hall, and 'all others' who won't.'

Update: Since this article was published, Morpeth Town Councillor Joan Tebbutt criticised Northumberland Conservatives for promising to stop the County Hall move due to the likely costs involved.

This should clarify more than ever that only the Conservatives will stop Labour's £80 million vanity project.