The first by-election of 2010 has resulted in a Liberal Democrat gain from the Conservatives in Harrogate. The result: Liberal Democrat Greta Knight: 688 Conservatives: 246 BNP: 92 Labour: 73 The by-election was caused by the death of the previous councillor – who had been elected as a Liberal Democrat but subsequently defected to the Conservative Party. Congratulations to Councillor Knight ...

Yesterday I suggested that the Liberal Democrats had cause to distance themselves from the controversial Policy Exchange report, Cities Unlimited, on the grounds that two of its authors were Liberal Democrats. One of the pair, Marc Oliver Hartwich, has got in touch fervently to deny being a Liberal Democrat, explaining that he has merely advised a Lib Dem peer: "I have worked for Matthew Oakeshot...

Yesterday Downing Street published a letter from David Cameron setting out the Government’s plans to open up data. Much of the letter is straight from the Conservative manifesto and very little is from the Liberal Democrat one. However, that is not a reason for Liberal Democrats to be nervous – for on these points the

Continuing the party’s excellent run of by-election results in Camden (and more generally in North London), Linda Chung is the new councillor for Hampstead Town ward: Liberal Democrat 1,242 (44.1%, +11.5%) Conservative 1,114 (39.6%, -6.9%) Labour 289 (10.3%, -1.0%) Green 140 (5.0%, -3.3%) BNP 29 (1.0%, +1.0%) Majority: 128 (4.5%) Swing: 9.2% Conservative to Liberal Democrat Congratulations L...

Welcome to Canncok Councillors Keith and Diane Bennett, who have switched from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats, and congratulations to Dan Roper who has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Broadlands. Nich Starling says of him: I am so pleased that my local Lib Dem candidate is genuinely the sort of person I

Blyth Valley: Labour Mayor switches to Liberal Democrats. Islington: Conservatives choose lap-dancing establishment for their Christmas party. Related posts:Conservative councillor joins Lib Dems A Conservative councillor in Mole Valley has switched to the...Labour-run council edits out opposition councillor from its magazine Neil Williams, a Liberal Democrat councillor in the London Borough...Wat...

Last nights by-election result - Another gain for Liberal Democrats in Camden, Linda Chung is now the new councillor for Hampstead Town ward: Liberal Democrat 1,242 (44.1%, +11.5%) Conservative 1,114 (39.6%, -6.9%) Labour 289 (10.3%, -1.0%) Green 140 (5.0%, -3.3%) BNP 29 (1.0%, +1.0%) Majority: 128 (4.5%) Swing: 9.2% Conservative to Liberal Democrat She is one of the founders and the current chair...

(From left: Councillor Tony Barber; Anna Pascoe, Lib Dem PPC for South West Devon; Stephen Kearney and fellow campaigners) Liberal Democrat Tony Barber has won the Ivybridge Filham by-election, following the resignation of the Tory councillor. The result: Liberal Democrats 379 Conservatives 356 Labour 121 Turnout: 21.76% Liberal Democrat PPC for South West Devon Anna Pascoe (also the agent for thi...

Here is my chapter from the Total Politics Guide to the 2010 General Election, looking at the prospects for the Liberal Democrats: The 1997 general election turned out to be a once in a generation opportunity for many local Liberal Democrat campaign teams to gain a Parliamentary seat from the Conservatives. At the tail end of

For those who just can't get enough of these, another one has started. This time it's for the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats (and, if I understand rule changes correctly, they will automatically be leader in the Welsh Assembly). (Liberal Democrat Voice: Race officially starts for Welsh Lib Dem leadership and Peter Black AM: Mike German stands down as leader) The candidates declare...