Dominic Hannigan welcomes by-election boost

11.29.18am GMT Wed 6th Dec 2006

Liberal Democrats in Cardiff South and Penarth have welcomed the party's election winning performance in council by-elections held in November.

Lib Dem campaigner for Cardiff South and Penarth, Dominic Hannigan, said the results showed that Labour had everything to fear from a Lib Dem challenge:

"The Liberal Democrats ended November with the most gains. The Conservatives made no gains at all from Labour in November whilst the Liberal Democrats gained 4 from them.

"In large parts of the country, the Conservatives are irrelevant and barely exist. This is especially the case in large cities and urban areas where it is the Liberal Democrats who are challenging Labour hard.

"In Cardiff South, the Liberal Democrats are the growing party and the main challengers to Labour. In 2004 we won 5 council seats from Labour and at the general election we took an 8% swing from Labour.

"These recent by-elections show that people are still moving away from Labour to support the Lib Dems. I am confident that in Cardiff South and Penarth, people will switch to supporting the Lib Dems, as the clear alternative to Labour."

Notes:

The net changes in seats contested in the November by-elections were:

Liberal Democrats +6

Conservatives +4

Labour -3

Independents/other -7