Author Archives: Stephen Tall

The new LDV members’ survey is now live – and it focuses, unsurprisingly, on the post-election scenario for the Lib Dems. If you are a registered member of the Liberal Democrat Voice forum – and any paid-up party member is welcome to join – then you now have the opportunity to make your views known on what the party should do next. Questions we are asking your opinion on include:

– whether you agree with Nick Clegg’s decision to allow the Tories’ first refusal to form a government;
– whether you agree with Nick Clegg opening talks with the Tories on …

Here are the headline figures currently:

Conservative 36%, 306 MPs
Labour 29%, 258 MPs
Lib Dems 23%, 57 MPs

As many have pointed out, how absurd is it that the Lib Dems can increase its share of the vote, but lose 10% of its MPs? As Ben Goldacre tweeted:

lib dems get 6.6m votes and 53 seats, labour get 8.4m votes and 252 seats, our voting system is broken

You can find a full list of Lib Dem MPs here.

2.20 pm

Three results have come in over the last hour or so, all Lib Dem HOLDS (phew). So congratulations to:

Martin Horwood in Cheltenham, who gained …

Apparently by 2,000 votes – if so, that will be a super-human effort given general disappointment of Lib Dem vote in London seats. More news as we get it …

Yes it’s true: Lib Dem GAIN from Labour in Brent Central on a huge 11% swing. An absolutely fantastic effort from Sarah Teather, who selflessly put herself up for election in the harder of the two seats she could have contested. Much kudos.

Sarah Teather Liberal Democrat 20,026 44.2% (+13.1)
Labour 18,681 41.2% (-8.9)
Conservative 5,068 11.2% (-1.9)

But disappointment in Streatham, despite a 5.3% swing from Labour:
Labour 20,037 …

Courtesy The Guardian, here’s the transcript of Nick’s remarks:

Last night was a disappointment for the Liberal Democrats. Even though more people voted for us than ever before, even though we had a higher proportion of the vote than ever before, it is of course a source of great regret to me that we have lost some really valued friends and colleagues and we have returned to parliament with fewer MPs than before.

Many, many people during the election campaign were excited about the prospect of doing something different. It seems that, when they came to vote, many of them in

…

Here’s the list – let me know any omissions …

Lib Dem MPs:
Danny Alexander, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Norman Baker, Lewes
Alan Beith, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Gordon Birtwistle, Burnley – NEWLY ELECTED
Tom Brake, Carshalton and Wallington
Annette Brooke, Mid Dorset and North Poole
Jeremy Browne, Taunton
Malcolm Bruce, Gordon
Paul Burstow, Sutton and Cheam
Lorely Burt, Solihull
Vincent Cable, Twickenham
Menzies Campbell, North East Fife
Alistair Carmichael, Orkney and Shetland
Nick Clegg, Sheffield Hallam
Michael Crockart, Edinburgh West – NEWLY ELECTED
Edward Davey, Kingston and Surbiton
Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale
Lynne Featherstone, Hornsey and Wood Green
Don Foster, Bath
Andrew George, St Ives
Stephen Gilbert, St Austell & Newquay – NEWLY ELECTED
Duncan Hames, Chippenham – NEWLY ELECTED
Mike Hancock, Portsmouth South
Nick …

8.00 am

Here’s where we’re at:

The Lib Dems have made SEVEN GAINS: Bradford East, Burnley, Norwich South, Eastbourne, Redcar, Solihull and Wells.

And THIRTEEN LOSSES: Camborne and Redruth, Chesterfield, Cornwall South East, Harrogate & Knaresborough, Hereford & Herefordshire South, Montgomeryshire, Newton Abbot, Oxford West & Abingdon, Richmond Park, Romsey & Southampton North, Truro and Falmouth, Winchester and York Outer.

The Tories are projected to score 37% (+4%) of the vote and win 308 (+98) MPs; Labour to score 30% (-6%) of the vote and win 260 (-89) seats; and the Lib Dems to score 23% (n/c) and win 53 (-9) MPs.

8.08 am

Lib Dem …

6.00 am

Here’s where we’re at (and it’s not pretty):

The Lib Dems have made FOUR GAINS: Burnley, Norwich South, Eastbourne and Redcar.

And ELEVEN LOSSES: Chesterfield, Cornwall South East, Harrogate & Knaresborough, Hereford & Herefordshire South, Montgomeryshire, Newton Abbot, Oxford West & Abingdon, Richmond Park, Romsey & Southampton North, Winchester and York Outer.

The Tories are projected to score 37% (+4%) of the vote and win 308 (+98) MPs; Labour to score 30% (-6%) of the vote and win 260 (-89) seats; and the Lib Dems to score 23% (n/c) and win 53 (-9) MPs.

6.09 am

Lib Dems’ Mike Hancock has HELD Portsmouth South.

6.15

…

5.55 am

Here’s that Lib Dem LOSS in Richmond Park on a 7% swing to the Tories:
Conservative 29,461 49.7% (+10.1)
Susan Kramer Liberal Democrat 25,370 42.8% (-3.8)
Labour 2,979 5.0% (-4.2)

5.50 am

Brighton Pavilion is a gain for the Greens’ Caroline Lucas.

5.46 am

Susan Kramer has LOST Richmond Park to the Tories’ Zac Gldsmith.

Lib Dems’ Stehen Gilbert has HELD St Austell & Newquay.

5.42 am

Terrific result for Nick Radford in Salisbury, but it’s another NEAR MISS:
Conservative 23,859 49.2% (+2.8)
Nick Radford Liberal Democrat 17,893 36.9% (+10.0)
Labour 3,690 7.6% (-11.0)

Vince Cable HOLDS Twickenham with a majority of 12,000:
Vince Cable Liberal …

2.55 am

More bad news … Lib Dems have failed to take Swansea West and Liverpool Wavertree and Totnes.

We have HELD Taunton. And there’s a recount in Ashfield.

2.50 am

Jo Swinson has held Dunbartonshire East.

Confirmation of the LIB DEM LOSS in Harrogate and Knaresborough, with a large 9.1% swing from Lib Dem to Tory:

Conservative 24,305 45.7% (+9.8)
Claire Kelley Liberal Democrat 23,266 43.8% (-8.4)
Labour 3,413 6.4% (-2.7)

2.47 am

The Tories’ Jeremy Hunt holds in Surrey South West, with an 8.6% swing from Lib Dem to Tory.

2.43 am

Chris Huhne HOLDS Eastleigh.

Confirmation of the Lib Dem GAIN in Eastbourne, with 4% …

1.25 am

Disappointing result for the Tories in Vale of Clwyd, where they fail to gain from Labour with a swing of only 3.6%. Intriguing results in Wales: Plaid failed to gain Ynes Mon from Labour, but did take Arfon.

Hearing of Lib Dem holds in Yeovil (David Laws) and NE Fife (Ming Campbell) – but Labour have held on in Wrexham, a hoped-for gain.

1.21 am

Tweet from Nigel Ashton of a likely Lib Dem hold in Southport:

We are confident of holding Southport but the result is hours away

And interesting news from Ashfield via The Guardian:

Gloria De Piero, the GMTV

…

I’ll be providing running commentary throughout the night. First off, a reminder of how you can follow our coverage and help contribute to it:

Our best source of information about how the Lib Dems are faring up and down the country will be you, our readers. Please let us have your latest titbits and tips no matter where you are in the UK.

You can contact us in the following ways:

• By email: [email protected]
• By direct message via Twitter: @libdemvoice
• By text/SMS: my number is 07976 629166. But please confirm your mobile number with me by email so I can be sure you are who you say you are!

Or of course you can leave a comment on the site at any time.

For those of you are at election night counts, or otherwise not able to access a computer, please remember you can access LDV’s mobile-friendly site at m.libdemvoice.org.