Overtaking the Conservatives in the Country, and in Kent
Thursday's local elections in areas across England saw hundreds of thousands of people putting their faith in the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats came second, ahead of both the Conservatives and Labour for the first time in local elections.
The Liberal Democrats now control more councils than the Conservatives. Ed Davey has set us the mission to overtake them at the next General Election too.
The Liberal Democrats GAINED control of 3 Councils:
Cambridgeshire
- Elected 31 councillors with 11 gains
- Gain from No Overall Control.
Oxfordshire
- Elected 36 councillors with 12 gains
- Gain from No Overall Control.
Shropshire
- Elected 42 councillors with 29 gains.
- Gain from the Conservatives.
We also beat the Conservatives to become the largest party in Devon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire.
And are the second largest party in Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, County Durham, Kent & Warwickshire. In Kent the Conservatives slumped to just 5 Councillors.
Overall the Liberal Democrats GAINED 163 Councillors, electing 370 Councillors in total.
As well as in the councils we gained control of, we also increased our number of councillors in:
- Buckinghamshire (+19)
- Cornwall (+13)
- County Durham (+1)
- Devon (+18)
- Gloucestershire (+11)
- Hertfordshire (+8)
- Kent (+6)
- Lancashire (+3)
- Leicestershire (+2)
- Lincolnshire (+2)
- North Northamptonshire (+1)
- Warwickshire (+9)
- West Northamptonshire (+2)
- Wiltshire (+16)
- Worcestershire (+2)
The Liberal Democrats now control more councils than the Conservatives for the first time ever.
These results mark our 7th set of gains in a row - our best ever winning streak at local elections.
This is the first time in history that the Liberal Democrats have beaten both the Conservatives and Labour at the same local elections.
We are on track to overtake the Conservatives at the next General Election.
Our results are a real sign of hope. Across the country, local Liberal Democrat champions will be getting to work, delivering for local communities and championing our liberal values.
But we cannot ignore the other big news of these elections - Nigel Farage and Reform, with big money behind them, making huge gains from both Labour and the Conservatives.
We know the threat Reform poses – to our communities, our democracy and our precious liberal values. We know where their divisive, destructive brand of politics could lead.
As Ed Davey said in Oxfordshire on Friday - the Liberal Democrats are the antidote to Reform, and we must continue to take a stand.
Over the past two days, we've seen a surge in new members joining the party - people worried about the rise of divisive populist politicians like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, and who know that it will be the Liberal Democrats standing up for true British values. Join the Liberal Democrats today, and make your stand.