Our best ever locals elections, our best ever European elections and our highest ever party membership ?

We’ve had an exceptional two months, winning elections, breaking records and growing our movement. Get the low down here:

Local Elections

We saw our party’s best ever local election results, taking control of twelve councils and winning 706 council seats across England.

We took control of Vale of the White Horse, Hinckley & Bosworth, North Norfolk, Winchester, Bath and North East Somerset, Cotswolds, Chelmsford North Devon, Mole Valley, North Devon, Somerset West & Taunton and Teignbridge Councils.

We also took big strides forward in Southport, Hazel Grove, St Albans and Cheadle and we made real, tangible progress in many more – including Dacorum, Welwyn Hatfield, Broxtowe, Wokingham, Brentwood, Southend, New Forest, Barnsley and Sunderland.

The European Elections

We came second, with a vote share of 20.3% and beat out both Labour and the Conservatives.

And we elected sixteen fantastic MEPs!

? Catherine Bearder (Group Leader), Anthony Hook and Judith Bunting in the South East

? Barbara Gibson and Lucy Nethsingha in the East of England

? Bill Newton Dunn in the East Midlands

? Caroline Voaden and Martin Horwood in the South West

? Irina Von Wiese, Dinesh Dhamija and Luisa Porritt in London

? Jane Brophy and Chris Davies in the North West

? Phil Bennion in the West Midlands

? Shaffaq Mohammed in Yorkshire and the Humber

? Shelia Richie in Scotland

This result marks a sea change in British politics. We are the biggest, strongest Remain party. We are the real opposition to the damaging Brexit pushed by Nigel Farage and his sycophants in the Conservative Party.

Membership Surge

People joined us in their thousands during the local and European elections. And these numbers just kept growing as people joined us to get their say in our leadership election.

We ended last week on 105,480 members – the highest number of members in our party’s history – and still growing!

A warm welcome to Chuka Umunna 

Having left the Labour party in February to start Change UK/The Independent Group, this week Chuka Umunna has decided to join the Liberal Democrats. 

The Liberal Democrats have proved that we are the defining progressive, Remain and liberal force in British politics – and our door is open to anyone who shares our values. 

Join us in wishing Chuka a very warm welcome here: Join us in welcoming Chuka

And read his article about his decision to join us here: Why I joined the Lib Dems

Leadership Election

And now we have a leadership election – a chance to choose the person to lead our party and build on these successes.

Hear from the candidates, find out about hustings near you and see the full election timetable here:

The Leadership Election

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