Jonathan Harris takes a seat in Brixworth with a 33% swing
The party has gained a seat on Daventry District Council as Jonathan Harris won the Brixworth ward by-election.
It was a historic result for the party taking a previously safe Conservative seat with a swing of33%and an increase in the vote share of38.5%.
Local resident and new Lib Dem CouncillorJonathan Harrissaid "I am absolutely honoured to have been elected to represent the people of the Brixworth area.
The Liberal Democrats are the only party fighting to keep Britain open, tolerant and united.
Open means open-hearted, open-minded, forward-looking, modern, green, internationalist and pro-European. We believe Britain is at its best when it is creative, innovative and outward-looking, comfortable in the fast-changing modern world and open to the opportunities and challenges of globalisation and the digital revolution.
Tolerant means diverse, compassionate and generous. We will always fight injustice and stand up for the underdog, the outsider, the individual, the minority and the vulnerable against the powerful.
United means we will always put the interests of the whole United Kingdom first. We reject the divisions in society, whether between young and old, urban and rural, leave and remain, or between regions and nations. We believe we are stronger - as communities, as a country and as a world - when we work together in our common interest.
We believe in Opportunity. That everyone, no matter what your background, should have the same chance in life. We want to fight injustice, reduce inequality and break down the barriers that hold people back, whether it is in schools, the workplace or anywhere people are denied a fair chance.
That starts with a strong and stable economy, fit for the long-term, without which we can't have a strong NHS, good schools and decent public services, and without those creating opportunity is impossible. We are the only party that combines economic competence with a plan for strong public services
We've just confirmed - Spring conference is back in York next year!
Registration will later this year, but for now save the date in your diary: 13-15th March 2020!
In the meantime, make sure you are registered for Autumn conference 2019 - where we will celebrate our big victories in the local and European elections this year - and welcome our newly elected leader Jo Swinson!
Climate change, liberalism, winning. That is my pitch to be leader in four words.
As a party we have led the national debate on Brexit, and become the clear rallying point for remain voters. The result was amazing. Our best ever result in a European Election. First place in London. Beating the Conservatives in every region in the UK, and the Labour Party across the country. The Lib Dems are back in the game.
Deciding to run for leader was not something I did lightly. This party has a history of leaders who had a huge impact on British politics, including people like Charles and Paddy, heroes of mine who I was so lucky to be able to know and work with.
I believe you should only apply for a job like this if you have a clear idea of what you'll do if you get it. Equally, I want you to know what to expect if you decide to give me your support.
I was just 17 when I became a Liberal Democrat. Honestly, if you'd have told me that I'd one day get the chance to write this post as the party's new leader I wouldn't have believed you.
The first thing I want to do is say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in this election. But special thanks must go to my good friend Ed Davey.
"If you're born poor, you will die on average 9 years earlier"
Inequality in life expectancy increased between 2012-14 to 2015-17 (the latest data available). In England, life expectancy at birth in the most deprived areas is 9.4 years less for men and 7.4 years less for women than in the least deprived areas.
On Thursday the party gained a seat on Daventry District Council as Jonathan Harris won the Brixworth ward by-election.
It was a historic result for the party taking a previously safe Conservative seat with a swing of 33% and an increase in the vote share of 38.5%.
Local resident and new Lib Dem Councillor Jonathan Harris said "I am absolutely honoured to have been elected to represent the people of the Brixworth area. I look forward to holding regular 'Listening Posts' to engage with and hear from residents. This result shows that people are looking for an alternative and increasingly they are seeing the Lib Dems as the most viable option."
The snap election campaign was called by the Conservatives after the resignation of their previous councillor.
Jonathan's victory means that for the first time Brixworth has a Liberal Democrat Councillor and means he will join long serving existing Lib Dem Councillor Catherine Lomax as the 2nd Lib Dem to be elected on the Council.
Daventry Liberal Democrats local party Chair, Rupert Knowlessaid "This is a historic result for the Lib Dems and comes after a boost following the European Parliamentary elections where we came second in the district. A great result for us and with just a few days to go before we elect a new Liberal Democrat Leader too".
I am delighted, honoured, absolutely over the moon to stand before you as the leader of the Liberal Democrats.
And as the first woman to lead our party.
I am delighted, honoured, absolutely over the moon to stand before you as the leader of the Liberal Democrats.
I joined this party when I was 17. And over the last twenty-two years, through all the ups and downs, the Liberal Democrats have felt like a family to me.
A decade ago we all knew that there was an economic crisis. Banks were collapsing. Credit was drying up. Bankruptcies. Job losses. Escalating budget deficits. A big drop in the currency. You didn't need a Nobel Prize in economics to realise that something was terribly amiss. It was the biggest financial crisis in over a century, and the biggest drop in production and incomes since the interwar period.
