Lib Dems “clear challengers” to rural Conservatives after stunning victory in by-election.

The Conservative majority overturned in Somerton and Frome (19,213) is greater than that of incumbent North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker (14,395). The victory follows two other stunning rural victories, in North Shropshire and Tiverton and Honiton. Local Liberal Democrats are claiming that this is yet another sign that the tide has turned against the Conservatives, and Baker is in serious danger of losing his seat. The Labour Party lost its deposit, as once again the anti-Conservative vote amassed behind the Liberal Democrats.

North Norfolk’s Liberal Democrats achieved a huge victory in the recent local elections in the area, beating the Conservatives across the constituency by more than 10 percentage points.

Steffan Aquarone, the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the North Norfolk seat, was jubilant that voters had once again sent a clear message that they were fed up of being failed by the Conservatives, and indicated that he is ready for the fight to make North Norfolk another so-called “Blue Wall” seat to switch to the Liberal Democrats.

Steffan Aquarone said:

“It’s clear from our historic victory today that people are fed up with how the Conservatives are taking our rural communities for granted. North Norfolk has a great deal in common with Somerton and Frome, strong farming heritage, struggles with rural poverty and isolation, and a desperate need for investment in our health and care services. It’s no surprise to see that voters there have turned on the Tories, and I am looking forward to our community having the chance to do the same.

“In rural constituencies like ours, we are the clear challengers to the Conservatives. Voters have sent the Tories a clear signal that their time is up, and they want to elect a hard-working MP who puts their interests first, not their party’s.

“As the last local election results showed, the Liberal Democrats are winning here. Myself and our team speak to hundreds of voters every month, and the overriding message we here is that they want change, and are sick of being let down by the Conservatives. It’s time to get a fair deal for North Norfolk, and residents know that the only way to achieve that is with the Liberal Democrats.”