This Monday is the twentieth anniversary of the Newbury by-election, when Liberal Democrat David Rendel won the seat with a majority of 22,055.
Only the most committed anorak remembers the name of the Conservative candidate whom David Rendel defeated. It was Julian Davidson.
Today, almost twenty years after his defeat by David Rendel, Julian Davidson was defeated again by a Liberal Democrat. A glutton for punishment….
Here are the candidates and election results for the electoral division of Blackdown & Neroche
Candidate Party Votes
BOWER, Darrelle Anne Green Party 123
DAVIDSON, Julian Turner Conservative 988
HENLEY, Ross Longhurst Liberal Democrat 1035 Elected
RUST, Clive Mark UK Independence Party 566
SPEARS, Madeleine Labour 183
Liberal Burblings 
You might remember we were extremely childish and called him Mr Blobby at the time. This appalling moniker was picked up by the national media and repeated several times. Just to remind you.
Yes indeed. I came up with it! I even wrote to the BBC and got a signed photo of Mr Blobby and started circulating it!
The Tories “retaliated” by calling David Rendel a dried twig. For some unfathomable reason that one didn’t catch on….
Pingback: LDN #35: analysing the Lib Dem local election performance