Liberal Democrats take control of new councils

The Liberal Democrats have taken control of both new councils which will launch next year in Surrey.

In West Surrey, the party took 56 seats, exceeding the 46 needed for a majority.

At the new East Surrey Council, the Liberal Democrats took 40 seats, with 37 needed for a majority.

The two new unitary authorities for East and West Surrey will replace the county, district and borough councils in 2027.

At a count in Redhill, Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan told the BBC: "It's a historic day for Surrey.

"We've had a Conservative county council for decades. We're doing incredibly strongly in west Surrey and we're feeling pretty confident here in east Surrey as well.

"We know there's a huge amount of responsibility on us, particularly on special educational needs and disabilities.

"In some ways we've had a five-way fight. I'm really proud that it looks like the Liberal Democrats are coming out on top of that, and that people in Surrey have rejected the politics of division, they're going for the politics of hope."

Bridget Kendrick, Liberal Democrat leader at Mole Valley District Council said it was "an incredible day for democracy in East Surrey".

She said: "We've voted for the Lib Dems to take control of the new unitary councils and reset the culture at Surrey that we've seen over decades of Tory control.

'People have voted for a fresh start across Surrey."

The Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said his party was "on a record winning streak", adding: "In places like Surrey, we're replacing the Conservatives."

Speaking in Guildford, Sir Ed said: "We're the only party who's actually held off Reform", pointing to results in Stockport and Portsmouth.

Asked how his party could increase support in areas where they have not traditionally been strong, he said "multi-party politics" brought a "real chance to show what we're about".

He said he thought the Liberal Democrats had a "moral responsibility" given how "utterly failed Labour and the Conservatives are".

"I think people are looking for a party that is true to British values of decency, tolerance, respect of the rule of law, and real practical plans, and only the Liberal Democrats offer those", he said.

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