Plymouth Liberal Democrats

Local Liberal Democrats have hailed the party's performance in yesterday's city council elections as proof that their recovery from last year's General Election is now "well underway."

Commenting, local party chair Hugh Janes said, "Yesterday saw more Liberal Democrat candidates standing for election here in Plymouth than at any time since 2010. We fielded more candidates, in fact, than either the Greens or UKIP. We saw a particularly good performance in Peverell, where Lib Dem candidate Charlotte Radmore's energetic campaign was rewarded with a jump in support since last time. Our recovery after the nationwide drubbing we got last year is now well underway.

Liberal Democrat candidates standing at the city council elections on Thursday 5 May are offering voters a strong, liberal alternative to the two old parties that have dominated Plymouth politics for far too long.

The party is standing in more parts of the city than at any time since 2010, whilst the number of candidates put up by the Greens and UKIP has slumped.

Liberal Democrats from across the South West were in Exeter on Saturday to launch their party's regional campaign for Britain to stay in the European Union. Speakers included former MEPs Sir Graham Watson and Lord Robin Teverson, who have both represented the city of Plymouth in the European Parliament.

Plymouth Liberal Democrats have paid tribute to Baroness Shirley Williams as she retires from the House of Lords.

Hugh Janes, the chair of the party in the city, said, "Shirley Williams has been an inspirational figure to me. She has brought a rare level of good common sense to the most complex problems and been a guiding light to liberals - as well as Liberal Democrats - for many years. I wish her all the very best for her well-earned retirement and want to ler her know she will be greatly missed."

Liberal Democrats were out in force last weekend, launching their party's local effort to keep Britain in Europe by delivering thousands of leafets to homes in the city.

Within the next two years Britain will go to the polls in a referendum to decide whether or not the country remains a member of the European Union.

Plymouth's Herald newspaper today published this letter from Peter York, the President of the Plymouth Liberal Democrats:

May I through this column express my shock and sadness regarding the sad news from Paris. I ask myself what can we do about this very serious problem?

Though we can never right the horrific wrongs of terrorism at the hands of ISIS, or stop the devastation felt by the people who have lost loved ones.

Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders has been swept into office as the new councillor for Clifton with Maidenway ward on Torbay Council after winning over two-thirds of the vote in a by-election held yesterday. Adrian, who was the MP for Torbay until the General Election, stood as the candidate in his home ward after the sad death of Ruth Pentney.

Hugh Janes, the chair of Plymouth Liberal Democrats, has pointed to the Liberal victory in Canada's general election as evidence of how liberal parties can bounce back after election disappointments. At the election, held on 19th October, Canada's Liberals jumped from the 34 seats they won in 2011 to win 184 this time. At the previous election the Liberals had seen their seat tally more than halve.

A vote for Britain to stay in the European Union when the EU referendum comes will be "the patriotic thing to do," says local Liberal Democrat Stuart Bonar, who stood in the Plymouth Moor View constituency at May's General Election.

Speaking after the Lib Dems had launched their campaign to keep Britain in Europe, Stuart said:

Records were set at this year's autumn conference; it was the biggest, most well-attended in Lib Dem history - and with more new members than ever before. Everywhere I went was buzzing with anticipation and hope for the future. The dreadful election results weren't ignored but there is a definite feeling of resurgence among party faithful and those recently joined.