The death of party politics, previously announced this year in many papers, has been postponed.

Low turnout in the General Election and the coming together of the main parties after the September 11 atrocities in America have made 2001 a curiously low-key year.

But right at the end of it, there are signs of life. New Labour is in danger of falling apart as people start to see through the dense web woven by spin doctors.

Old Labour, which seemed to have moved itself into the Socialist Alliance and other parties of the Left, revived as Chancellor Gordon Brown proclaimed only public money could rescue the National Health Service.

Scores of MPs with Old Labour sympathies have kept quiet since 1997, mainly in gratitude to Tony Blair for getting the party elected after 18 years in the political wilderness. But they are now getting restless. Some of them, with no hope of office and the possibility of defeat at the next election, may rebel frequently on issues of conscience.

But the Tories do not seem to be benefiting from this change. They have still not gained a by-election seat from Labour in the last four years, a remarkable record of failure. There is a danger they, like Labour, could split in two, although it is more likely to be over Europe than socialism.

The party with a spring in its step is the Liberal Democrats. In last month's Ipswich by-election, which should have been a classic opportunity for the Tories to win, the votes went to the third party and there is every sign this will continue.

Normally, when Labour is in power, the Lib Dems do not fare well but that has not been so since 1997. The party has increased its number of seats at successive general elections and there is every chance the Lib Dems, rather than the Tories, will steal by-election seats from Labour.

This trend could have an intriguing effect in Sussex. At the next general election, the Lib Dems could pose a real challenge in Hastings and gain at local council level, too. The party could also be poised to make something of a comeback in Adur.

But in Brighton and Hove, the position is even more intriguing. The Lib Dems are unlikely to make much of an impact on the parliamentary seats but they could wield a great deal of influence on the city council. Two years ago, they unexpectedly gained three seats in Brunswick and although nearly all the wards are being changed, they are out to win some more.

There is also a strong challenge from the Greens, who also made gains last time and who have increasing support in the trendier parts of the city. A highly-likely scenario for 2003 is that the council could be hung, with the Greens and Lib Dems holding the balance of power.

The council is already hung on many major issues because a rump of Old Labour councillors keep rebelling against the New Labour administration's policies. No wonder some senior Labour politicians, mindful of the way in which the political wind is blowing, are seeking Lib Dem support.

The most intriguing question of all is whether many people know what they are voting for when they support Lib Dem candidates. I know voters who would be horrified at aspects of the party programme, ranging from increasing income tax to proportional representation.

That will be tested if the Lib Dems ever get close to holding the balance at Westminster after a general election. So will the unity of the party. I rather fancy that, after marching their troops for so long towards the sound of gunfire, they might get thoroughly shot to pieces when they arrive.