Well, we didn't have the opportunity to fight an election this time, but national results have been very encouraging and were it not for the incompetence and blind dogma of the Conservative administration at Northamptonshire County Council, we would have repeated the national success in Daventry.
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
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.
Local Liberal Democrats were celebrating last night as they gained a seat on Daventry District Council as Jonathan Harris won the Brixworth ward by election.
In a historic result the party took 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."
Do you know someone special who deserves to be recognized for their service to the party? Yes, it's party awards time again!
Every year at Autumn Conference we hand out prestigious party awards to members who have done some of the most outstanding work in the party. Going above and beyond the call of duty time and time again.
There's just four days left to cast your ballot in the Liberal Democrat leadership election.
All ballots must be cast by 1pm on Monday 22nd July to count.
It's quick and easy to vote - all you need are your Unique Voting code - which has been emailed or posted to you - and this website: https://www.mi-vote.com/
This time next week, Vince Cable will be the former leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Ballots close at 1pm on Monday 22nd July. That means you have six days to have your say on where our party goes next.
Later that day, either Ed Davey or Jo Swinson will be announced as our party's new leader. They're both fantastic candidates and either would make a fine leader for the Lib Dems going forward. You can find out more about their plans for our party here:
It's been equal parts incredible, exhausting and humbling to be at the centre of a massive Lib Dem parliamentary by-election.
I'm honoured to join a select group of people who get the full national parliamentary by-election treatment, with the best of the best Lib Dem campaigners in the country fighting to get me elected.
As I write this on Friday, I am about to set off for Brecon and Radnorshire, to help the brilliant Jane Dodds campaign in the by-election. It will be my third visit since the Recall petition first started. Make no bones about it, Jane is a brilliant candidate and our team there is outstanding, but we need more people to help over the next few weeks: we have a tough fight on our hands in a very rural seat. We need more people to help deliver leaflets, knock on doors and help with clerical work. Please, please, come and help. Postal votes land on doorsteps, and we need to call on postal voters this coming weekend, before many voters go on holiday.
After a time-warp 6 week campaign, an 18 hour polling day marathon and an incredible win on 26 May, the sixteen of us went to Brussels in June to take up our new positions as MEPs. You might have heard about the furore we caused!
The Liberal Democrat cohort are sworn in as MEPs. If you like our tshirts, you can get your own here
