Buzzfeed has done an analysis of our prospects in this May’s elections. They talked to former LDV co-editor Mark Pack and the party’s Deputy Leader Jo Swinson.
The Party is going after EU Nationals’ votes and has invested in a series of social media adverts targeted at various nationalities.
Swinson said EU nationals would not be convinced by Labour’s stance. “They are pretty furious at the current government and also not too impressed with Labour’s position because Labour are really letting the government off the hook when it comes to Brexit,” she said.
“In terms of the front benches and the direction of travel, both Labour and the Conservatives are full-speed and extreme Brexit. Jeremy Corbyn wanted to trigger Article 50 the day after the referendum, so he’s very much a Brexiteer and EU citizens know that.”
The article outlined where we hope to make gains – across London and in Labour-facing areas such as Hull, Newcastle and Manchester.
The Lib Dems currently hold the southwest London borough of Sutton and believe they have a chance to grab the neighbouring Remain-voting boroughs of Kingston and Richmond where it is a Tory–Lib Dem fight. They also hope to make some gains in Islington, Jeremy Corbyn’s backyard.
They are fighting for more seats on the Labour-run councils of Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds – although they know this is an uphill battle – and are hopeful of gains in Newcastle and Hull.
“There are a number of seats up for election where we’ve done well in the past but not so much recently,” Pack said. “Progress against Labour in Hull and Newcastle would show that the Lib Dem recovery is more than simply an anti-Tory bounce back.”
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