Lib Dems remain main opponents to Tories in Bosworth

Despite a challenging night for the party nationally the Lib Dems emerged as the clear 2nd party to the Conservatives in Hinckley and Bosworth.

In the parliamentary seat Lib Dem Michael Mullaney got nearly 12,000 votes coming 2nd to Tory David Tredinnick. Labour finished third, just 16 votes ahead of the 4th placed UKIP candidate.

Reacting to the result Michael said "I want to thank all the people who supported me in this election. I was overwhelmed by the number of people who not only voted for me, in what was nationally the most difficult election for the party ever, but also the number of emails, phone calls facebook messages of support I received.

"I've been honoured to campaign to be Bosworth's MP not only for the last 7 weeks, or 7 months but the last 7 years. In 2010 Bosworth saw the biggest swing against any Tory MP in the country 6%. Last night it saw one of the smallest swings against the Lib Dems in the country. Bosworth is one of only two seats in Britain where the Lib Dems finished 3rd in 2005 and 2nd in 2015. Despite very strong Labour and UKIP challenges the Lib Dems kept 2nd place in the most difficult election ever for us. This makes it clear that in Bosworth the choice really is either the Lib Dems or the Conservatives. Bosworth has the biggest Lib Dem vote in the East Midlands region.

"I will continue to campaign locally to protect local services such as libraries and bus services and for the improvements to the local NHS and reform to planning laws that our area desperately needs."

In the local elections the Lib Dems also remained the clear opposition to the Conservatives. While the Conservatives got 21 seats on Hinckley and Bosworth, the Lib Dems got 12, Labour just 1 and UKIP 0.