LIB DEM COUNTY LANDSLIDE IN SOUTH LAKELAND

Liberal Democrats are celebrating after they gained four more County Council seats - three from the Conservatives and one from Labour - within the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.

Liberal Democrats gained Cartmel, Lakes and Kendal South from the Conservatives and gained Kendal Strickland and Fell from Labour.

In all fourteen of the county council seats that are wholly within the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency the Liberal Democrats won huge swings from the Conservatives. In the previously rock-solid safe Conservative seat of Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale, the Liberal Democrats came within just 13 votes of winning after two recounts.

Across Westmorland and Lonsdale, the Liberal Democrats won 60% of the vote against 37% for the Conservatives and 3% for Labour. That represents an enormous swing of 12% from Conservatives to Liberal Democrats since the 2005 general election. Labour would lose their deposit if this result was repeated in a general election.

Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said, "I am extremely grateful to local people for their support. At a time of great uncertainty in our country, it has been really humbling to have won such a huge victory. All I can say is 'thank you' and to promise that we will continue to work hard for our communities now that the Liberal Democrats have won control of the County Council's South Lakeland Area Committee."