Thank you: Lib Dems become the second party in Northamptonshire

10.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 10th Jun 2009

Liberal Democrats in Northamptonshire have thanked local residents for solid progress in county council and European Parliament elections held on Thursday 4th June - which saw the party become the official opposition on the Conservative-run County Council.

Hardworking Liberal Democrat MEP Bill Newton Dunn has been re-elected and will continue to represent Northamptonshire in the European Parliament

The Lib Dems stood a record number of candidates and made a net gain of 2 seats - bringing their total up to 9 county councillors. Meanwhile Gordon Brown's Labour Party suffered their worst ever result in Northamptonshire, losing 15 seats and falling into third place.

In Kettering and Wellingborough parliamentary constituencies, the Liberal Democrats increased their overall share of the vote - and took second place in six county council divisions. Hardworking Lib Dem MEP Bill Newton Dunn was also re-elected, and will continue to represent Northamptonshire in the European Parliament.

A Lib Dem spokesperson said, "Despite a low turnout in these elections, the Liberal Democrats have made real progress. Increasing numbers of local people are unconvinced by the way Conservative council bosses are running our local area - and want change from a broken Labour government at Westminster."

"With the Labour Party in freefall, having lost the trust of the people, it's clear that they have no hope of winning this area at the General Election. Across much of Kettering and Wellingborough constituencies, it's the Liberal Democrats that have become the main challengers to a Conservative Party that cannot bring the change we need to our country or our county."

"We thank every one who supported us at these set of elections, and will continue to work all year round to solve local residents' problems."

ENDS