It’s very late at night in my icy garret – lucky that I’m clad in particularly warm fur, I suppose, but Liberal Democrat Voice’s attack sea otter never sleeps…

Overnight, news has reached us of the only known by-election last night, in the Stratton-Whiteway ward of Cirencester Town Council. The result;

Congratulations to Mark, the first Liberal Democrat winner of 2013!

As usual, there is a European flavour to today’s content, with some news on banking reform, especially for one of our readers who wanted it explained, and a response to UKIP’s little local difficulties – apparently they’ve now lost their PPC for Chester…

I’ve just been forced to resign as #UKIP PPC for #Chester because of my letter on gay marriage: twitpic.com/bu2zqftwitpic.com/bu2zo9

— Richard Lowe (@RichardLoweUK) January 10, 2013

Meanwhile, a new writer for Liberal Democrat voice, Mark Blackburn, of Social Liberal Forum renown, looks at the fate of the high street in the light of yesterday’s announcement that Jessops has gone into administration, whilst Bill le Breton detects support in high places for his ideas on turning around the economy.

You’ll often find Liberal Democrats in pubs – real ale is rather popular amongst activists of my acquaintance, and IPPR’s Rick Muir welcomes Vince Cable’s plans for pub companies, whilst Andy Boddington (see the link there) says something nice(ish) about a Conservative minister. It won’t last, will it? There’s also a little controversy to come, as David Thorpe suggests that Margaret Thatcher may have had a point.

We’ll also have, if I find time to write it, a review of next week’s activities in the Lords, and, rounding off the week, we hope to have the Friday Five to point the way to the weekend.

So, wrap up warm, and drop in from time to time during the day…