Sir Ed Davey praised the Liberal Democrats’ “exceptional” general election results.
When the polls closed on Thursday night, the exit poll by Ipsos UK for Sky News, the BBC and ITV News suggested the Liberal Democrats they would win 61 seats – compared to 11 – more than five times the number they won in the last elections in 2019.
Since then, the Liberal Democrats have secured a series of Tory gains – including in Wells & Mendip Hills, Dorking & Horley, Wimbledon, Yeovil, Hampshire North East and Norfolk North.
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The Liberal Democrats also removed several prominent Conservative ministers.
Alex Chalk, the justice secretary, lost to Max Wilkinson at Cheltenham.
The party also won Chichester – with Jess Brown-Fuller defeating Education Secretary Gillian Keegan with a majority of 12,172 votes.
While Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer lost her seat in Ely & East Cambridgeshire and Michelle Donelan lost to Liberal Democrat Brian Mathew, taking his seat in Melksham and Devizes with a majority of 2,406.
The Liberal Democrats aimed to reach the so-called “Blue Wall” of Tory seats in the south-west and south-east of England, and their strategy appears to have paid off.
Photo: PA
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed was re-elected in his seat of Kingston & Surbiton with 25,870 votes, ahead of his Conservative rival Helen Edward with 8,635.
Speaking at The King’s Center in Chessington, south-west London, Mr Ed. said the party had put voters’ concerns “at the heart of our campaign”, adding that it “really enjoyed” the six weeks leading up to the election.
Throughout the campaign, he performed a series of stunts such as paddle boarding, bungee jumping and interviewing on a teacup ride in an amusement park.
Sir Ed at the London Art Bar in central London. Photo: PA
“I think it’s possible to have a serious debate as well as have a bit of fun. I don’t take myself seriously as a politician. I want to take the concerns of the British people seriously,” said Sir Ed after his speech. election.
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“I hope the style we adopted has encouraged people to join the Liberal Democrats.
“It certainly encouraged them to vote for us. This is an exceptional result, a historic result for the Liberal Democrats.”
He added that Liberal Democrat policies on issues such as healthcare and the cost of living crisis “have been heard louder and clearer because of the way we present ourselves in this positive light”.
Sir Ed has represented Kingston & Surbiton since 1997, except in 2015 when he lost to Conservative James Berry in a backlash against the Coalition Government.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
