Liberal Democrats hail ‘exceptional’ election result
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Sir Ed Davey has hailed the Liberal Democrats’ “exceptional” results in the general election.
When polls closed on Thursday night, the exit poll by Ipsos UK for Sky News, the BBC and ITV News suggested the Lib Dems would win 61 seats – up from 11 – more than five times the number they secured at the last election in 2019.
Since then, the Lib Dems have secured a number of gains from the Tories – including in Wells & Mendip Hills, Dorking & Horley, Wimbledon, Yeovil, Hampshire North East and Norfolk North.
The Lib Dems also unseated multiple prominent Tory cabinet ministers.
The Lib Dems had set out to target the so-called ‘Blue Wall’ of Conservative seats in the southwest and southeast of England, and its strategy appears to have paid off.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed was re-elected in his Kingston & Surbiton seat with 25,870 votes, ahead of his Conservative rival Helen Edward on 8,635.
Speaking at The King’s Centre in Chessington, in southwest London, Sir Ed said the party had put voters’ concerns “at the heart of our campaign”, adding that he had “rather enjoyed” the six-week run-up to the election.
Throughout the campaign, he has conducted a series of stunts such as paddle boarding, bungee jumping and conducting an interview on a fairground teacup ride.
