Lib Dems are 'regaining momentum'

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg says his party "confounded expectations" in England and Wales' local elections.

Although their projected share of the vote was down 4% on when these seats were fought in 2004, and 1% down on 2007, they gained 30 more councillors.

And the 25% projected share of the national vote was enough to push Labour, on 24%, into third place.

Mr Clegg said his party had proved it was "regaining momentum" and he was "delighted" with the result.

'Doing well'

He said: "We were 13% a few months ago, we're now 25%. We've overtaken Labour, we've taken seats off the Conservatives, we've taken seats off Labour.

LIB DEM RESULTS

• Lib Dems gain 30 seats
• Key Liberal Democrats win - Burnley, Kingston-Upon-Hull, Sheffield, St Albans
• Key Liberal Democrats losses - Liverpool, Pendle

"Every time I opened a newspaper in the last month I was being told it would even be a good night if we lost a number of seats; we've won seats.

"If you call that a disappointment then we inhabit different planets. I am actually delighted, we are regaining momentum."

A BBC projection based on the votes in councils in England and Wales put Labour's national vote share at just 24%, 20 points behind David Cameron's Conservatives on 44% and beaten into third place by the Liberal Democrats on 25%.