The dominant narrative in the build-up to these local elections has been all about UKIp vs the Tories, with a bit of angst about Labour’s southern mission thrown in. The Lib Dems didn’t really get a look in. They had moved to a reasonably stable position after romping home in the Eastleigh by-election, but today’s results could change that. Their awful showing in South Shields – coming 7th – will shake the party, but so will any surprise big losses. The party has already failed to take control of Somerset County Council, which was one local authority it had focused a great deal of effort on.
Sending out Tim Farron to do the expectation management hard work this morning was a good attempt at maintaining party unity. Farron is a plain-speaking party president who likes acting as a pressure valve for the Lib Dem grassroots.
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