It was party time in Frome : Like the Liberal Democrats never went away

By Susie Watkins

21st Jul 2023 | Local News

No one looked very tired at the party today in Frome to celebrate a stunning win of the Liberal Democrats, who took the seat of Somerton and Frome from the Tories with a majority of over 11,000 votes.

Not the new MP, Sarah Dyke, who now has a bigger majority than the leader of her party, Sir Ed Davey, who also looked pretty pepped, and who joined her on celebratory turn around town.

In the early hours, the seat was won by the farmer's daughter who pressed home messages of serious representation and giving a voice to a constituency that has been effectively without an MP for 14 months, following the allegations against the Conservative David Warburton. She has always been someone who stressed how grounded her politics are, and how she will work hard for the constituency ; clearly 21,187 now trust her to do just that.

But first today (July 21) it was also party time, with huge smiles for special guests at Frome Market Place including, and being awarded a special mention, the widow of Paddy Ashdown, Lady Jane Ashdown, who for many WAS the Liberal Democrats in the South West.

So it was, said leader Ed Davey, a time for a blast from the past, with a return to power in their traditional heartlands. But his ambitions were clear, this is just the start, another by-election win and onwards and up wards.

The Liberal Democrat campaigners, clearly delighted after hours of hard work, and perhaps a few too many leaflet drops (!) enjoyed the circus and the media attention.

Rockets, confetti and jokes at the PM Rishi Sunak's expense, even some circus music to bang the drum on that message - get these clowns out.

As Ms Dyke told Nub News before the ballot, now the party is nearly over, and the serious business begins of tackling all those issues she has been hearing on the doorstep for the past 12 months.

The full results of the by-election held on July 20 HERE

     

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