Liberal Democrats dominate in South Lakeland in Westmorland and Furness election

It was almost a clean sweep for the party, with MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron calling the result ‘astonishing’.

The Conservatives hung on with three seats; Matt Brereton kept his seat in High Furness, after a tense recount, with a majority of 19.

Ben Cooper of the Conservatives also took Low Furness after another recount that saw him win his seat with a majority of 23.

And Helen Irving won another Conservative seat in Ulverston, where Labour councillor Jackie Drake took the party’s only South Lakeland seat and Green councillor Judy Filmore maintained her seat in Ulverston.

Cllr Filmore was the only Green candidate to be elected to the new Westmorland and Furness Council.

Chairwoman of the Westmorland and Lonsdale Conservatives Councillor Pat Bell, who did not win a seat in Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale, said candidates had registered much 'frustration' from voters while campaigning, reflecting the 'national mood'.

"It's a rural area and they are wondering are we being listened to?" She said.

She said frustration stemmed from the increased cost of living, with fuel bills, petrol and food prices continuing to soar and that the way people were voting in this election was 'their way of registering that frustration'.

While it was a ‘disappointing’ day for the Conservatives, there were plenty of smiles in the Lib Dem camp.

Lib Dem councillor Peter Thornton, who is currently deputy leader of Cumbria County Council, said it felt great to keep his seat in Kendal Strickland and Fell.

“It was a hard fight, but I’m really pleased to be involved in the creation of the new council,” he said.

“We knocked on thousands of doors and the message was that people wanted a council that addresses climate change, fixes the roads and footpaths and isn’t far away.”

Fellow Lib Dem councillor Dyan Jones, who was re-elected for Windermere and Ambleside, said it was a ‘privilege.’

“It’s a privilege and an honour,” she said.

“It’s brilliant in this moment of history and that we can deliver a deliver a vision for Westmorland and Furness with Liberal Democrat values.”

Councillor Doug Rathbone, Lib Dem councillor for Kendal South, said the hard work ‘starts now’.

“It’s an honour,” he said.

“it’s great to carry on the work for local residents.

“But the hard work starts now.”

Mr Farron said he believed national issues such as the price of living had had an big impact on the day’s result.

“When they brought in the new authority it felt like it was drawn up to prevent us from having a majority,” he said.

“And for us to win a majority at all is just astonishing.

“These are astonishing results and we’ve never ever won before all the council seats in my constituency and now we have.

“There’s a great responsibility now we’ve got to run the council well and make sure we’re working for the people who didn’t vote for us.

“I think on a national level it shows that voters don’t take kindly to a government without integrity.”