Do the 2016 local elections mark the beginning of a #LibDemFightback?

Author: Dominic Leigh   |   10/05/2016

Elections since 2010 have not been the most enjoyable experience for Liberal Democrats. During the Coalition years the party lost nearly 2,000 councillors, having already been on a downward trajectory from 2006 to 2010. The Coalition ‘journey’ culminated in last year’s catastrophic General Election result, which saw the party left with only 8 MPs. However, since the General Election the party has touted a number of impressive results in council by-elections. The big question coming into the 2016 local and devolved elections was whether the party could deliver a solid seat of results with nearly 2,800 council seats up for grabs.

The answer was a resounding “yes”. Overall, the party made a net gain of 45 seats – the largest of any party – at a time when Labour, the Conservatives and even the Greens made losses. In addition to gaining control of Watford, the party retained control of the three councils it was defending – Eastleigh, Cheltenham and South Lakeland. Moreover, it also made progress in areas where they have traditionally performed well, including Portsmouth, Southport and Hull. On a smaller scale, former MP John Leech won a seat on Manchester City Council to end Labour’s complete stranglehold on the Council; the party also gained a seat from the Conservatives in a council by-election in the key South West battleground of Torbay.

The Lib Dems also showed resilience in Scotland, where they managed to win four constituency seats, with two gains from the SNP in Edinburgh Western and North East Fife. Similarly in Wales, Kirsty Williams won the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency gaining more than 50 percent of the vote. However, it was not all good news. The party performed poorly in the devolved list elections, picking up one additional seat in Scotland – compared to the Greens’ six – and none in Wales. Moreover, the party was only able to win one seat on the London Assembly, missing out on a second by just 6,000 votes.

It is somewhat ironic that the party that has long campaigned for Proportional Representation is now performing more effectively under First Past the Post elections. Nevertheless, this stands them in good stead to continue the Lib Dem Fightback in local council elections in England and Wales. Through a renewed focus on community politics, the Lib Dems have the opportunity to replicate what they achieved in previous decades; by using gains in council elections to develop local strongholds and help win back Parliamentary seats. And with more powers being devolved, this approach will also give Lib Dem councillors the chance to make a bigger difference for local people at the same time.