Another Thursday and another set of fabulous council by-election results for the Liberal Democrats – a weekly occurrence for the Liberal Democrats in 2016 after making 28 net gains. That trend is already off to a barn-storming start to 2017.
Tonight the Liberal Democrats have taken two seats (both of tonight’s by-elections) one from the Conservatives in Three Rivers and one from Labour in Sunderland. Both with big swings to the Lib Dems.
In the week of Jeremy Corbyn’s big, disastrous, relaunch, labour lost in Sunderland with a 36% swing. It looked on paper to be a LAB/UKIP contest with the Lib Dems in 4th with 4.5% only last May. In the referendum a month later 61% voted LEAVE on June 23rd.
In Three Rivers the Lib Dems gained the seat with a swing of 23% from Conservatives to the Lib Dems. 51% voted LEAVE here during the referendum. Yet the Lib Dems stormed to victory GAINED the seat and took overall control of Three Rivers Council in the process.
Another altogether excellent day for the Liberal Democrats.
Tonight's by-election results:
Sandhill, Sunderland: LDEM gain.
Gade Valley, Three Rivers, LDEM gain.More: https://t.co/Q1lXVZh7PI pic.twitter.com/quJo64oNlh
— Britain Elects (@britainelects) January 12, 2017