Lib Dems and Greens enjoy resurgence after picking up string of Labour and Tory council seats 

Lib Dems and Greens enjoy resurgence after picking up string of Labour and Tory council seats

  • The Lib Dems made gains across the country, including one Brexit stronghold
  • Welcome news to leader Sir Ed Davey after party’s previous poor performance 
  • Lib Dems deprived Tories of overall control of Cambridgeshire County Council 

The Liberal Democrats and Greens put in a strong performance last night as they picked up a string of Labour and Conservative council seats.

The Lib Dems made gains across the country, including in at least one Brexit stronghold. 

This will be welcome news to leader Sir Ed Davey after the party’s poor performance in the last general election, when then leader Jo Swinson lost her seat. 

The Lib Dems made gains across the country, including in at least one Brexit stronghold. Pictured, leader Sir Ed Davey

The smaller parties were forecast to take more seats today.

The Lib Dems deprived the Tories of overall control of Cambridgeshire County Council, winning five seats. 

In Brexit-voting Sunderland, they took four from Labour, while in Sheffield they and the Greens helped deprive Labour of overall control.

In Stockport, the Lib Dems became the largest party, with a one-seat advantage over Labour. They will probably form a minority administration.

It's welcome news to leader Sir Davey after the party’s poor performance in the last general election, when then leader Jo Swinson (pictured) lost her seat

It’s welcome news to leader Sir Davey after the party’s poor performance in the last general election, when then leader Jo Swinson (pictured) lost her seat

The party also made gains in Hull and were also expecting to take seats in Liverpool from Labour, and in Kent and Lincolnshire from the Tories. 

Sir Ed said: ‘In great swathes of the country the Lib Dems are the only party who can beat the Conservatives.’

The Green Party made good progress, winning at least 40 new seats.

There were nine councils where Green candidates won seats for the first time, including Stockport, Northumberland, Hastings, County Durham and Derbyshire.