Yesterday we had the best by election result in Wandsworth for the Lib Dems in many a year. A solid third place with 10.6% may not look like much, but it is a significant and positive step. It shows that the EU referendum has given the party a new opportunity. It also shows that contesting “hopeless” elections can be fun, and you can learn much in the process.
Why I am so pleased? I have been part of the Wandsworth Alliance/Lib Dem scene since 1984 – pretty much the moment that fortunes turned against us. We have always been the underperforming local area. Neighbouring Lambeth, Richmond and Kingston moved on to great things; even Merton and Hammersmith achieved the odd breakthrough; we had no electoral success whatsoever. In terms of members and money we were never especially weak by Lib Dem standards, but we struggled to make any impact whatsoever. Unless we committed heroic amounts of effort (notably Graveney ward in Tooting from 1966 to 2010 – hanging on to a second place) activity generated no noticeable impact in votes cast.
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