Tory Wipeout as Lib Dems surge in Local Government by-elections

The Conservatives lost every single Council seat they were defending in local-by elections last night, including 3 seats to the Liberal Democrats in the South-West, all areas that had voted Leave in the EU referendum.

Folkestone and Hythe Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Lynne Beaumont welcomed the results.

"It's great to see the Lib Dems winning in some wards we haven't won in a generation, and often with huge swings like we acheived in the Parliamentary election recently in Richmond Park." said Lynne.

"What's heartening is that many of the seats we've gained are in areas that voted Leave in June. The Liberal Democrats are appealing to more and more voters - whether they shared our view on Europe at the time of the referendum or not."

"Nationally and locally it is the Liberal Democrats, not Jeremy Corbyn's divided Labour, that are the main opposition to the Conservatives."

Shepway Lib Dem campaigner Tim Prater added:

"The Conservatives have now lost more net seats than any other party since May 2016.

"Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have had their best year for local by-election gains since 2002.

"We're looking forward to the 2017 elections with renewed confidence - the Lib Dem Fightback has clearly started, and we're aiming to make sure we keep it going - in Shepway, Kent and nationally."