Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has described the local election results, which have seen his party gain 58 seats across England so far, as “an almighty shockwave that will bring this Conservative Government tumbling down”.
Ed Davey made the comments at a victory rally in the ultra marginal constituency of Wimbledon, where the party has gained 12 seats in the Merton Borough elections. The Liberal Democrats have also gained ground in Cheadle (Stockport), Witney (West Oxfordshire) and Eastleigh – all seats where the party is in a strong second place to the Conservatives.
The Liberal Democrats have won control of Hull City Council from Labour, as well as gaining a further nine seats in Richmond-upon-Thames, where they took control from the Conservatives in 2018.
In a victory speech to party activists, Ed Davey said the results show people “have had enough of being ignored and taken for granted by this Conservative Government.”
He said the Liberal Democrats are winning “because we are listening to people, because we are standing up for our communities and fighting for a fair deal.”
With gains across Greater Manchester, it is not just Conservative facing seats which are under threat from the Liberal Democrats. A gain in Oldham ensured that the Liberal Democrats here stay as the main opposition, with a third successive gain from Labour in Saddleworth West and Lees.
Elsewhere, there were two wins from Labour in Salford, as well as gaining two seats in Stockport, putting them three clear of Labour as the largest party. There were further gains in Trafford too, including that of Conservative Leader Ian Frass.
Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “We’re taking the fight to all comers. People are desperately disappointed in the way that Oldham Council is being run by the Labour administration, and they are looking for genuine alternatives. We provide a credible challenge to Labour, and we intend to see this through.”