Sir Ed Davey congratulated Sarah Dyke on taking Somerset and Frome away from the Tories. e, as they have pledged more seats to the region's Conservatives in next year's general election.
Sarah Dyke won a majority of 11,000 seats, while the Conservatives had a majority of 19,000 in the 2019 election.
The Liberal Democrats were confident enough to claim victory less than two hours after the ballot boxes began counting in Shepton Mullet on Thursday night, and a spokesperson described the Tory vote as “in free fall.”
Sir Ed Davey visited Frome on Friday morning to congratulate Ms Dyke as he hailed the West Country as a “second front” for his party in its fight against the Conservatives in the next general election.
The Liberal Democrat leader told The Telegraph the party is “coming back hard, coming back strong” in the region, building on their growing success in the home districts, which began with victories in Chesham and Amersham in 20 21 years old.
He said: “Thinking before the general election if we can fight and beat the Tories on these two pretty big fronts in the south of England, I think the Conservatives are in serious, serious trouble. And it is the Liberal Democrats who will profit the most at their expense.”
The Way Forward Before the Elections
The Southwest was considered the traditional center of the Liberal Democrats until the 2015 elections, when the party lost a number of seats after the coalition years.
Sir Ed became the first Liberal Democrat leader to win four by-elections since the late Lord Ashdown of Norton sub-Hamdon, whose widow attended Frome's celebration.
He acknowledged that tactical voting was part of their success, adding: “Voters vote tactically and that is their right. This is absolutely their right. And they vote for the party that can most defeat the Conservatives.
“I don't think we've seen tactical voting on the scale that we're seeing now in quite a few elections, which is another reason Conservatives should be concerned.”
Sir Ed and Miss Dyke pretended to light a fake cardboard circus cannon emblazoned with the words “Get those clowns out of No. 10” in the last Liberal Democrat by-election. winning stunt.
The leader of the party told the supporters gathered in the center of Frome: “Rishi's ringmaster has no ideas, he's out of touch and he has no excuses. It's time to end his shameful spectacle. It's time for the general election to end this conservative circus.”
The leader of the Liberal Democrats and his new MP with a banner aimed at the government of Rishi Sunak. Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Faners, bystanders and journalists were then showered with yellow and gold confetti as circus music blared from speakers.
Ms Dyke, a local council member, comes from a Somerset farming family that has lived in the area for over 250 years. She hugged her mother and brother after the official announcement of the results early Friday morning.
In an emotional speech on the Earl, she said, “Well, the people of Somerton and Frome said loud and clear today: enough is enough. The people in Somerton and Frome have been without the right to vote for too long. This is changing right now.
“Instead of an absent Conservative MP failing you, you have an active Liberal Democrat MP who will lift you up.”
Ms Dyke vowed to campaign for better access to NHS GPs and dentists, benefit farming communities and help voters overcome the cost of living crisis.
The by-election was prompted by the resignation of David Warburton after he admitted to cocaine use.
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