Ed Davey hails 'best result in decades' as Lib Dems win big in Conservative heartlands

The Liberal Democrats have seen over 1,000 councillors elected, made major gains and got 20% of the national vote - our highest vote share in a decade.

This is the highest number of councils gained by the Lib Dems since 1995, which came ahead of the party’s sweeping gains against the Conservatives at the 1997 election.

Across England the party has gained control of 12 Councils, including Chichester, Dacorum, Guildford, Horsham, Mid Devon, South Hams, South Oxfordshire, Stratford on Avon, Surrey Heath, Teignbridge, West Berkshire & Windsor and Maidenhead.

Locally, the Lib Dems retained control of Cotswold and Bath & North East Somerset, and became the largest party in Tewkesbury.

There are local elections in Gloucester in 2024 and the recent by-election win in Westgate for Lib Dem Rebecca Trimnell shows the party are the challengers to the Conservatives in the city and can take control of the council next year.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “This has been an historic victory for the Liberal Democrats with our best result in decades.

“It’s little wonder Rishi Sunak is running scared of a General Election, because he knows the Liberal Democrats are set to take swathes of seats across the Conservative Party’s former heartlands.

“The message from these elections is clear: people are fed up with being let down and taken for granted by this Conservative Government - it is time for a change. 

“Voters have sent a political shockwave to dozens of  Conservative MPs right across the blue wall. Our great country deserves so much better than this out-of-touch Prime Minister and his chaotic and careless Conservative Government.”