Farron predicts Lib Dem gains against Tories

The Liberal Democrats have recruited thousands of new members and are on course to overthrow Tory MPs across the South West at the next election, the party’s leader has predicted.

Dissatisfaction with the Tory Government and Brexit have seen the party gain 19,000 new members across the country since the EU referendum, taking its total membership to 77,000.

In last year’s general election, the Lib Dems lost 14 of their 15 seats in the South West to the Tories.

But Tim Farron, the party leader, said the party was “fighting back” and had since gained council seats and thousands of members in the region.

He added: “With Labour in the wilderness, the Lib Dems are now the credible opposition to this Conservative Brexit government.”