Liberal Democrats sweep the board in Windermere - The Guardian

The Lib Dems tend to get written off these days on threads to Guardian articles, even the very polite and cogent ones which follow Northerner posts.

One swallow doesn't make a summer for the party's strange bird symbol, but they are understandably cheerful in Windermere today.

Yesterday's by-election for the Windermere Town seat vacated by Coun Sandra Britton, who resigned because of the need to look after her elderly father, resulted in the party taking not far short of 75 percent of the vote. Their candidate Jo Stephenson joins South Lakeland district council - and also his wife Hilary who is its deputy leader. He has this to say:

I want to thank local residents for the help, support and trust they have placed in me. I will work hard every day to repay that. I will join our MP Tim Farron and the local Lib Dem team and we will continue to work hard all year round for the community and fight for a better deal for Windermere.

The Lib Dems were heavily entrenched in Windermere, polling 69.9 percent last May, as against Stephenson's 72.9 percent, so they had everything to lose. Instead, the result was a 1.7 percent swing from the Conservatives and the Labour vote fell by over half.

The figures were: Lib Dems 418 Cons 85 Lab 50. No one is going to judge too exactly on a 33 percent turnout, but that is not too bad for a local by-election and it was VERY cold in the Lakes yesterday.

Farron says:

All smiles: Tim Farron with Jo Stephenson and Hilary Stephenson. Photograph: Paul Butters

I want to congratulate Jo for his hard work - he will be fabulous on the council. He really is a fantastic community champion. Jo has a real track record of action for Windermere and I know he will continue to do all he can to improve the village and support local residents.

The really excellent website Vote UK has the results of all yesterday's by-elections, which also included two Lib Dem gains at Towcester on South Northamptonshire district council. But for all its name, Northhamptonshire is not in the true north, so we cannot comment on them.

We will ask Ed Jacobs to return to this when he is better from the flu, as we hope he will be soon.