LIB DEMS TO MAKE 'PARLIAMENTARY GAINS'

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th May 2008

The Liberal Democrats would win all three Parliamentary seats in Newcastle if this year's local election results were repeated at the next general election, new analysis shows.

Parliamentary campaigners Ron Beadle, Stephen Psallidas and Gareth Kane would win Newcastle North, Newcastle East and Newcastle Central respectively.

The Lib Dems topped the polls in all three seats on May 1st and it would give them a clean sweep of the seats in Newcastle.

It would see Doug Henderson, deputy chief whip and minister for the north east Nick Brown and Jim Cousins unseated.

Councillor John Shipley, Lib Dem group leader, said: "In most parts of the North East, it is the Lib Dems who are in pole position to take the seats from Labour."