Local election results 2023: Lib Dem gains in traditionally Tory areas

The Liberal Democrats person been celebrating section assembly victories successful traditionally Tory areas successful England.

They person improved connected 2019 - the past clip these seats were fought - gaining much than 300, and taking power of Windsor and Maidenhead, Stratford-on-Avon, and 7 different councils.

Party person Sir Ed Davey said helium had a "Cheshire Cat grin" connected his face.

Elections adept Prof Sir John Curtice said the Lib Dems had done somewhat amended than successful 2019 and 2022.

But the enactment has made beardown advancement successful the Tory "Blue Wall" areas it volition beryllium targeting astatine the adjacent wide election.

The BBC has projected that if the full of Britain had had the accidental to ballot successful Thursday's section elections and had behaved successful the aforesaid mode arsenic those who did vote, the Liberal Democrats would person won 20% of the nationalist vote, with Labour connected 35%, the Conservatives connected 26%, and different parties connected 19%.

In Stratford-on-Avon - wherever the parliamentary spot is held by Conservative erstwhile chancellor Nadhim Zahawi - the enactment gained 15 seats, portion the Tories mislaid 14.

The Lib Dems besides took power of Surrey Heath - wherever Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is the MP - and overturned Tory majorities successful West Berkshire and Dacorum successful Hertfordshire.

The enactment won power of Chichester successful West Sussex, and 3 councils successful Devon - South Hams, Teignbridge and Mid Devon.

With immoderate results inactive to beryllium declared, different Lib Dem highlights included leapfrogging the Tories to go the largest enactment successful West Oxfordshire - which includes ex-Prime Minister David Cameron's erstwhile spot of Witney.

The enactment besides strengthened its grip successful Hull, holding disconnected Labour's efforts to regain power of the authority.

On Friday morning, Sir Ed told supporters adjacent Windsor Castle: "Voters crossed the state person sent a wide connection successful these section elections that adjacent idiosyncratic arsenic retired of interaction arsenic Rishi Sunak can't disregard it.

"I'm truthful arrogant that erstwhile Katy Perry and Lionel Ritchie participate Windsor Castle for the coronation performance connected Sunday, they'll beryllium going into a ward that's represented by 3 marque caller Liberal Democrat councillors."

He besides said it had been a "ground-breaking night", with his enactment "exceeding each expectations".

Since 2021, the Liberal Democrats person targeted what they telephone "blue partition seats" - accepted Tory strongholds with much affluent, higher educated, anti-Brexit populations.

Although it has had immoderate success, notably winning the Buckinghamshire parliamentary constituency of Chesham and Amersham, the party's wide canvass ratings person remained astatine astir the 9% mark.

Gains successful these latest acceptable of section elections whitethorn buoy the party's hopes of a beardown show successful the adjacent wide election, wide expected successful 2024.

However, Liberal Democrats traditionally execute amended successful section than successful wide elections and determination is nary warrant that this week's successes volition construe into further victories adjacent year.