"The two largest parties in the House of Commons approach the 2025 autumn conference season with trepidation. Both Labour and the Conservatives are spooked by collapses in voter support and by the rise of Reform UK. Party anxiety, internal disagreements and even grassroots revolts seem possible at both of their conferences. The third-largest party, the Liberal Democrats, have no such worries at all. They start their conference in Bournemouth this weekend in resilient mood."
"Having won 72 Commons seats in 2024 the best result by any third party for a century Sir Ed Davey's party cemented those gains in the 2025 English local elections. While Labour and the Tories lost both votes and seats to Reform UK, the Lib Dems did the reverse, gaining seats and capturing three county councils. As a result, Sir Ed claimed the Lib Dems were now the party of middle England."
The Liberal Democrats won 72 Commons seats in 2024, the best third-party result in a century, and consolidated those gains in the 2025 English local elections. Labour and the Conservatives lost votes and seats to Reform UK, while the Lib Dems gained seats and captured three county councils. The party presents itself as appealing to middle England, but national polling averages about 14 percent. The Lib Dems perform best in remain-voting areas and struggle in leave ones. First-past-the-post is rewarding the Lib Dems where the Conservative vote has collapsed, creating strategic choices between opposing Labour or the Conservatives.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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