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| Lib Dems head for big local elections losses | Lib Dems head for big local elections losses |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Lib Dems are on course for the worst local election results since they entered a government with the Conservatives, early results suggest. | The Lib Dems are on course for the worst local election results since they entered a government with the Conservatives, early results suggest. |
| Their vote has gone down 13 points in wards they contested in 2010 and by two points in those they contested in 2012. | Their vote has gone down 13 points in wards they contested in 2010 and by two points in those they contested in 2012. |
| But the majority of the 161 councils where elections were held on Thursday have yet to declare. | But the majority of the 161 councils where elections were held on Thursday have yet to declare. |
| And senior party figures are hoping to do better in areas where they have a strong local activist base. | And senior party figures are hoping to do better in areas where they have a strong local activist base. |
| They will be encouraged by the result in Eastleigh, where the the Lib Dems very nearly lost to UKIP at a by-election last year. | They will be encouraged by the result in Eastleigh, where the the Lib Dems very nearly lost to UKIP at a by-election last year. |
| 'Humanity' | 'Humanity' |
| This time they have held off the threat from Nigel Farage's party, which has failed to win a seat on the council, and retained their dominance in the council chamber, with 40 seats to the Tories' four. | This time they have held off the threat from Nigel Farage's party, which has failed to win a seat on the council, and retained their dominance in the council chamber, with 40 seats to the Tories' four. |
| The Lib Dems also retained seats in the constituencies of Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming and Mid Dorset and North Poole's Annette Brooke. | The Lib Dems also retained seats in the constituencies of Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming and Mid Dorset and North Poole's Annette Brooke. |
| Lib Dem minister Lynne Featherstone told BBC News the party could lose half of its 732 seats up for grabs at this election and that being in government had cost the party some of its "humanity". | |
| The party is braced for heavy losses in the European elections, which were also held on Thursday, with some senior figures worried they could lose all 12 of their MEPs. | The party is braced for heavy losses in the European elections, which were also held on Thursday, with some senior figures worried they could lose all 12 of their MEPs. |
| The results are due to start coming in late Sunday, when counting gets under way across the EU. | The results are due to start coming in late Sunday, when counting gets under way across the EU. |
| But first the party will be watching results in London, where it is battling to retain control in Tory target Kingston-upon-Thames, where Lib Dem cabinet minister Ed Davey has his Westminster seat. | But first the party will be watching results in London, where it is battling to retain control in Tory target Kingston-upon-Thames, where Lib Dem cabinet minister Ed Davey has his Westminster seat. |
| Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable said: "We take a kicking for the things the government does that are unpopular and it does reflect on us." | Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable said: "We take a kicking for the things the government does that are unpopular and it does reflect on us." |
| But he dismissed suggestions that Nick Clegg's future as Lib Dem leader could be called into question if the party endured a poor night, saying: "There isn't a leadership issue and I think he has enhanced respect as a result of being willing to engage with these very difficult issues." | But he dismissed suggestions that Nick Clegg's future as Lib Dem leader could be called into question if the party endured a poor night, saying: "There isn't a leadership issue and I think he has enhanced respect as a result of being willing to engage with these very difficult issues." |