East Herts Lib Dems celebrate their part in historic Chesham & Amersham win

The Liberal Democrats gained a 25% swing in Chesham and Amersham turning a 16 thousand Conservative majority into an 8 thousand Liberal Democrat one and elected their 12th MP Sarah Green.  That 25% swing to the Lib Dems in Chesham and Amersham has put blue wall seats everywhere on notice. We would need a 20% swing to take Hertford & Stortford for example.

However, the result didn’t happen without some help from neighbouring friends.

Chair of East Herts & Broxbourne Liberal Democrats, Andrew Porrer said:

 “I was very proud that so many members in East Herts and Broxbourne either made the trip over or helped in other ways. I myself spent some time campaigning there as well as on a very wet polling day.”

“The atmosphere in Chesham & Amersham was something special. Talking to voters, it was clear that many were excited that their vote may make a difference for once and they could rid themselves of the seemingly permanent Conservative representation they had found themselves stuck with.”

He added: “Also more traditional Conservative voters felt that the current government didn’t represent their values anymore. They didn’t warm to the dishonesty, the corruption and the incompetence. We thought it was going to be close on the night but what really made it a spectacular result was the number of conservatives voting for us helped by their own party, who had taken them for granted, turning them out to vote!”

The by-election result was part of a wider trend of the Liberal Democrats winning against the Conservatives. At the May 2021 local elections, Liberal Democrats won an East Herts District Council by-election and won their first Liberal Democrat County Counciilor in East Herts for 20 years. They got a record number of Hertfordshire County Councillors and the party gained a host of other seats across the South. Liberal Dmeocrats even gained control of Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire Council for the first time ever.

Andrew finished:

“It is clear from these results that residents do not like being taken for granted and that’s exactly what this Conservative party is doing here and across the South.”

Commenting on the Chesham and Amersham by-election success, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 

"This is a huge victory for the Liberal Democrats. The people of Chesham and Amersham have sent a shockwave through British politics.

"We were told it was impossible for any party to beat the Tories here in Buckinghamshire. We were told this seat was too safe and the Tories too strong. This Liberal Democrat win has proved them utterly wrong.

"Across the south, the Tory Blue Wall is beginning to crumble. Here and in great swathes of the country, only the Liberal Democrats can beat the Conservatives and breach their Blue Wall.

"This amazing win will strengthen our fight to safeguard our precious natural environment and build a fairer, greener, more caring country."