Lib-Dems snatch seats from the Left and Right
LIBERAL Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey declared the party was “winning across the country again” after a string of local election victories.
The party won dozens of extra town hall seats, including snatching Hull City Council from Labour, which was an embarrassment for Sir Keir Starmer.
The Lib-Dems also took seats from the Conservatives in places such as Stockport, Wimbledon and West Oxfordshire – David Cameron’s former backyard.
Tackle
The results follow a run of election thrashings which saw the party’s fortunes dwindle. Speaking in front of party activists onWimbledon Common, Sir Ed said: “We are going to have a Liberal Democrat MP forWimbledon at the next election. And I think there are other places where we’re going to see Liberal Democrat success for the first time ever.
“I’m really excited about the South-west of England and coming back there. I’m excited about all those seats across the BlueWall which, frankly, we haven’t been players in for a long time.”
He also said more needed to be done to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
“Millions of pensioners and families deserve more support, not high taxes, unfair tax rises,” he said. “They deserve
an NHS where people aren’t having to wait for hours for an ambulance and wait for days for a GP appointment.
“They deserve a Prime Minister who won’t take them for granted, a Prime Minister who doesn’t lie, who doesn’t break the law.”
Asked if the Lib-Dems had been forgiven for their role in the coalition government of David Cameron and Nick Clegg, Sir Ed – who served as energy minister under them – called this week’s local elections a “turning point”.
He continued: “People across our country have spoken in huge numbers. This is a historic moment for the Liberal Democrats.We are winning across the country again.”