Thank you from the Reading Lib Dems

Thank you to the thousands of Reading residents who voted for our candidates in this year's local elections.

This year's local elections saw Reading Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor James Moore, re-elected in Tilehurst with a thumping 52.5% share of the vote, and good results in other wards across the Borough.  Outside Reading, the Liberal Democrats knocked the Conservatives into third place, winning more council seats and control of more councils than the Conservatives. 

Every local authority around Reading remains led by Liberal Democrats, who solidified their position as the largest party across Berkshire and across Oxfordshire as well.

Reacting to this year's local election results in Reading, James Moore, the newly-re-elected Councillor for Tilehurst, said:

"I'm delighted to have been re-elected for a full four-year term to stand up for Tilehurst and for the Liberal Democrats on Reading Borough Council.  Across Reading, residents told us they were desperate for a change, from a tired Conservative government in London and a tired Labour administration at Reading Borough Council.  I've loved the two years I've already had on Reading Borough Council - I can't wait to get started on the next four.  Thank you to the more than fifteen-hundred people in Tilehurst who voted for me - and to everyone who didn't, I'll be there standing up for you, too."

James and his council colleagues Meri O'Connell and Anne Thompson were straight back to work the day after the count finished, holding their regular councillor surgery in Tilehurst.

The Liberal Democrats were also the only party to make significant gains in the new Reading West and Mid Berkshire constituency, with their votes increasing by more than a hundred and fifty in the three Reading wards of the constituency.  Meanwhile, Labour stood still despite the national polls, only increasing their votes by seventeen - while the Conservative vote plummeted by over four hundred.

Reacting, Helen Belcher, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Reading West and Mid Berkshire said:

"These results and James's emphatic re-election in particular, reinforce the picture in Reading West and Mid Berkshire, that only the Liberal Democrats are advancing in this constituency.  We already know Labour can't win outside the Reading area.  I'd also like to congratulate Marie French on an excellent, hard-fought campaign in Norcot.  Residents responded very well to her campaign and I'm looking forward to seeing her on the council in future years.  In the meantime, I look forward to taking the fight to this awful Conservative government and helping to change Britain for the better."