anyway, there have been lib dem leaders in the past when the lib dems had been the third—biggest party. you end up on the telly and social media much more often. but the lib dems are definitely trying to do the thing that they've done most recently with by—elections and whatever, where they are willing to have a little bit of fun and potentially sometimes, if not of their own expense, then a bit of playful, cartoonish stuff. that's part of the tone and tenor, consciously, their campaign. i remember nick clegg doing that as deputy prime minister in 2015 and his campaign looked like his gap year, and it didn't really go well. i got loads of pictures on the news, but they had a very it got loads of pictures on the news, but they had a very disastrous performance. so stunts of having fun does not to securely transmit automatically to doing well in the election. should be end with a gimmick? why not, why not? let's make the habit of the lifetime. let's continue the habit. on friday, we were doing that little game where i looked up hansard, which is the official record of primary proceedings

have perhaps _ climate change crisis, lib dem have perhaps the — climate change crisis, lib dem havely taking action — best record on actually taking action. across the piece, ithink best record on actually taking action. across the piece, i think we have _ action. across the piece, i think we have policies— action. across the piece, i think we have policies that will appeal to young _ have policies that will appeal to young people. are have policies that will appeal to young peeple-— have policies that will appeal to young peeple-_ have policies that will appeal to young people. are you relying on them to go _ young people. are you relying on them to go for— young people. are you relying on them to go for this _ young people. are you relying on them to go for this blue - young people. are you relying on them to go for this blue all, - young people. are you relying on them to go for this blue all, and| them to go for this blue all, and tiny yellow? _ them to go for this blue all, and tiny yellow? i— them to go for this blue all, and tiny yellow?— tiny yellow? i think there are --eole

_ any clem inches is good news for the lib dems an— any clem inches is good news for the lib dems an dems an it is working. 100%, he needs to lib dems an it is working. 10096, he needs to remind _ lib dems an it is working. 10096, he needs to remind people _ lib dems an it is working. 10096, he needs to remind people that - lib dems an it is working. 10096, he needs to remind people that the - lib dems an it is working. 10096, he needs to remind people that the libi needs to remind people that the lib dems exist, i am looking forward to him going zorbing or surfing or what is happening next. it is an endless round of entertainment which is brilliant for news the industry, but if they were going to announce a new policy on a tax change or a some extra standing we wouldn't be talking about it, we wouldn't have devoted much time. it talking about it, we wouldn't have devoted much time.— devoted much time. it says a lot about us in _ devoted much time. it says a lot about us in the _ devoted much time. it says a lot about us in the media. - it says a lot about us in the media. that's it

.— for the lib dems.. that is the political editor _ for the lib dems. that is the political editor of _ for the lib dems. that is the | political editor of newsnight, for the lib dems. that is the - political editor of newsnight, nick watt, with his ear to the ground in hartlepool. these are the live pictures from hartlepool as the votes come in to be counted. i will bring injoe from dell to pull back in. talk to me about what will become quite a big thing tomorrow and into saturday, the projected national share. and into saturday, the projected nationalshare. explain and into saturday, the projected national share. explain what that is because a lot of people will start talking about that during the day. for those who don't speak robo geek that figure takes all of the data that figure takes all of the data that we have gathered from these individual contests which are not run in the entire country, and then estimates what the figure would be where the contests run nationwide. so it is as good a comparis

the whole lib dem _ lib dem logo. i didn't know that! the whole lib dem thing - lib dem logo.re like a hammer smashing the conservatives' blue wall. number three, alteration hammer was the new deal with the eu, so it reminds people of that. also, it's quite a weird name, so they get publicity. job done as far as they're concerned. tick, tick, tick. there's a strategy — concerned. tick, tick, tick. there's a strategy to _ concerned. tick, tick, tick. there's a strategy to try — concerned. tick, tick, tick. there's a strategy to try and _ concerned. tick, tick, tick. there's a strategy to try and be _ concerned. tick, tick, tick. there's a strategy to try and be sort of i a strategy to try and be sort of knowingly fun. the thing they've done for the last couple of years, conscious that as a small party getting attention is half the battle, i would say it's more than that. it's one heck of a battle. there's a real price at stake in this general election, being forced between the liberal democrats and the scottish national party — almost entirely in different places in the uk. the

the lib dems in terms _ general election. the lib dems in terms of— general election.y _ terms of results on thursday have actually overtaken the conservatives. worth pointing out the greens have done really well, putting _ the greens have done really well, putting up— the greens have done really well, putting up 65 councils. this is what it means _ putting up 65 councils. this is what it means in — putting up 65 councils. this is what it means in terms of the vote share. what _ it means in terms of the vote share. what has _ it means in terms of the vote share. what has changed since these elections last held on 21, the conservative vote is way down, 12%, labour— conservative vote is way down, 12%, labour up _ conservative vote is way down, 12%, labour up % — conservative vote is way down, 12%, labour up 3%. again, it's good, maybe — labour up 3%. again, it's good, maybe not— labour up 3%. again, it's good, maybe not as much as it would have been _ maybe not as much as it would have been on _ maybe not as much as it would have been on a _ maybe not as much as it would

the reputation of the lib dems as they over perform in - enough. the reputation of the lib. type?— are you clear you have dispelled that stereotype? this is going to be lookin: like that stereotype? this is going to be looking like the _ that stereotype? this is going to be looking like the local _ that stereotype? this is going to be looking like the local elections - looking like the local elections were for the sixth time in a row the lib dems will have made progress and we have never done that as a party. we have won over 650 councillors in this term of parliament, more than any other party, so i really think we are making huge progress and it is quite clear when you look at the four by—election wins but we have had in this parliament where we focus resources we do well, particularly given the conservatives are in freefall. d0 particularly given the conservatives are in freefall.— are in freefall. do you want a reneral are in freefall. do you want a general election _ are in freefall. do you want a general election sooner - are in freefall. do you want a l general electio

income tax — lib dems who fought hard to increase the income tax allowance _ lib dems who fought hardase the income tax allowance to help - the income tax allowance to help pensioners— the income tax allowance to help pensioners and _ the income tax allowance to help pensioners and people _ the income tax allowance to help pensioners and people on - the income tax allowance to help pensioners and people on low . pensioners and people on low incomes _ pensioners and people on low incomes. , , , ., ., incomes. the lib dems leader not alone in pointing _ incomes. the lib dems leader not alone in pointing out _ incomes. the lib dems leader not alone in pointing out this - incomes. the lib dems leader not alone in pointing out this idea - alone in pointing out this idea reverses a previous conservative policy. the politics, as ever, a question of balancing priorities as the election campaign hits week two, the election campaign hits week two, the parties all hoping they are the ones to make a splash. harry farley, bbc news, westminster. meanwhile, the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, says

a healthy ma'ority, i think the lib dem _ seat.s were_ seat. a healthy majority, i think the lib dems were second - seat. a healthy majority, i think the lib dems were second in . seat. a healthy majority, i think. the lib dems were second in that seat, 18,000 as you say, would be described as healthy in any normal general election. we've had by elections recently were greater majorities than that have been overturned. i haven't had a chance to look at what swing would be needed on those kind of technicalities that we get into, but the pure numbers of 18,000, you know, who knows? it is possible. but it would be, it would certainly have been seen as a kind of safe conservative seat so we'll have to see, as i say, the lib dems in the second whether they are campaigning there. ., ., ~ ., ~ second whether they are campaigning there. . . ~ ., ~ , there. hannah miller, thank you very much for the — there. hannah miller, thank you very much for the latest _ there. hannah miller, thank you very much for the latest there _ there. hannah mil

and the lib dems . >> oh, yes. and the lib dems.r davey is still on a mad one. >> are you enjoying this? honestly oh. come down. >> so here are the latest polling numbers from yougov. the tories are on 21. labour on 46% reform, uk on 15, lib dems 8, green party 6% and the snp 2. however if you want the most up to date definitive picture , you to date definitive picture, you had better tune in to my show tonight at 9 pm. when we have got a big general election exclusive for you, so that is 9:00 pm on my usual show patrick christys tonight, right at the start of it, a huge general election exclusive that will probably be leading the news agenda, i imagine, throughout the weekend. and you will get it first there. but what a panel i have tonight. we've got angela knight, former conservative mp and economic secretary to the treasury, bill rammell, former labour mp and minister for the armed forces . labour mp and minister for the armed forces. norman brennan, former liberal democrat. brennan r baker . former liberal democrat. brennan r b

so the lib dems are people voting for the lib dem policies, claire?se they are tactically voting to deal with the other party? i know for a fact a lot of our viewers and our listeners are politically homeless and i think the lib dems have missed a massive trick here. they could have come out with some idea of a manifesto that would unite and cover the common ground, because people don't want to be far right, far left people don't even want the middle ground. now, of these main two political parties, conservatives and laboun parties, conservatives and labour, because they've got no identity, they're very wishy washy and if anything, coming out of a pandemic, what we should have seen was a cross party support and cross party. support in terms of a way out of things. i think the lib dems have really missed a trick, and i think they might be worth the watch, especially north of the border. in terms of, holding up propping up those that win because it's not going to be, it's going to be quite a hotly contested election, i think. and i think the lib dems ca

darren murphy and former lib dem mp mark oaten. here in the studio, i've got the spectator's top political hack james heale, former labour mp stephen pound and commentator extraordinaire emma woolf. we are 48 hours or so now into this seismic general election campaign. there's been gaffes, there's been resignations and finally there have been some policy announcements as well. we do a lot of it. after your. news. >> good evening. i'm ray addison in the gb newsroom , rishi sunak in the gb newsroom, rishi sunak has been greeted by a group of pro—palestine protesters as he visited a college in the west midlands this afternoon. the situation was described as tense as the prime minister arrived at south staffordshire college in cannock. that's the last stop on his uk tour . police officers his uk tour. police officers formed a guard for mr sunak as his entry to the college was delayed and he was quickly ushered into the building as the crowd surged around him. whilst inside , activists with banners inside, activists with banners and fla

what about the lib dems? _ scale of the challenge. what about the lib dems?you _ scale of the challenge. what about the lib dems? do you think - scale of the challenge. what about the lib dems? do you think therel the lib dems? do you think there figures are up? i the lib dems? do you think there figures are up?— figures are up? i don't think we have many _ figures are up? i don't think we have many figures _ figures are up? i don't think we have many figures from - figures are up? i don't think we have many figures from the - figures are up? i don't think we have many figures from the lib | figures are up? i don't think we - have many figures from the lib dems. i don't think they particularly engage with the scale of these issues either. i think like the two main parties, they'd rather not discuss that. we're not in the world we were many remember when the lib dems would go into election saying they would increase income tax to pay for their proposals. maybe that will come out later on. at the moment, i'm not aware that they've made anything essentially diff

so could that torpedo his apparent lib dem revival?e joined now by the former lib dem mp, mark oaten. mark, thank you very, very much. on that. i will say, you know, ed davey responsible for partly anyway, one of the biggest scandals in modern british history. he's not fit to run a political party, is he ? political party, is he? >> i think it will be a slight concern for the lib dems, because one of the things that really matters to them during a general election campaign is that their leader hits the headunes. that their leader hits the headlines . they have a really headlines. they have a really popular leader. remember charles kennedy, paddy ashdown , and then kennedy, paddy ashdown, and then remember nick clegg. everybody saying, i agree with nick, so they'll hope and want that ed davey has a good campaign and a high profile campaign and becomes easily recognisable , so becomes easily recognisable, so they'll want to shut down very fast. any connection to the post office scandal. he said he regrets what happens . he said he regret

the lib dems have been campaigning _ he said. the lib dems have been campaigning against _ he said.b dems have been campaigning against the sewage | campaigning against the sewage scandal— campaigning against the sewage scandal for years and have led it in parliament — scandal for years and have led it in parliament. we have got a whole set of policies _ parliament. we have got a whole set of policies. today we have talked about _ of policies. today we have talked about disbanded 0fwat, which is the regulator— about disbanded 0fwat, which is the regulator who has failed to package the sewage problem. we want a new le- the sewage problem. we want a new leg rail— the sewage problem. we want a new leg rail regulator that is tougher and we — leg rail regulator that is tougher and we have a much more stronger and coherent— and we have a much more stronger and coherent regulator to crack down on these _ coherent regulator to crack down on these water— coherent regulator to crack down on these water companies and their pollution — these water companies and their pollution. we also, to give

weekend in the kind of blue wall seats, these traditional conservative seats the lib dems are going seat, they were going to go for and really target that one even before he said he was standing down but they will certainly be going for it now i will certainly target other cabinet ministers�* seats, people likejeremy hunt�*s and thatis seats, people likejeremy hunt�*s and that is what the lib dems are really setting their sights on, places in the south—east and south—west and here in cambridgeshire, it is a key seat, one of the top five but lib dems want to go for and they will have challenges here in labour and the conservatives but they have targeted this as a key seat they want to go for and there were some boundary changes here since the last general election so they are hoping that might go in their favour. the lib dems had some success in the local elections here as well so they are really hoping that this will be one of the key seats that they can gain it but of course this is just the start and that is six weeks to go yet so a long way to go yet. great stuff, francis reed, a

the lib dems, are coalitions?sful in politics, you need to make that coalition as broad as it is practicable to make it . practicable to make it. >> well, now, in principle, i think the way you phrased the question, i think is right that parties are coalitions and yes , parties are coalitions and yes, the wider the coalition, in the sense the more people seem to be caughtin sense the more people seem to be caught in a net of it in those terms. what i would say, however, is and i'm trying to look at this objectively, jacob, rather than from a partisan point of view, is, of course, if there were no reform party, the conservatives would do better the next election because that's where the vote would go, the question really is whether or not if there is a sort of pact or some sort of arrangement as you put forward, whether that would lead to the result which you wish to see? i'm not sure it would, because there are plenty of conservative votes , of conservative votes, particularly amongst, say, in the south and what's

that's because the lib dems plan to smash up the lib dems plan to smash up the blue wall in the southf england with yellowhammer. we're in kendall now because it is the only lib dem held constituency in the north of england. and then tomorrow we'll be heading over to wales and then to the south. it's the south where ed davey is really hoping to pick up a lot of seats. there are lots of constituencies in the sort of home counties which are held by conservatives, have held by, have been held by conservatives for years. but the lib dems think that they stand a chance now , including jeremy chance now, including jeremy hunfs chance now, including jeremy hunt's constituency in surrey. it's places like that where ed davey is hoping that people will be prepared to vote as a sort of protest vote for the lib dems. unlike his predecessor, jo swinson , who ran the 2019 lib swinson, who ran the 2019 lib dem on the motto jo swinson, your next prime minister ed davey is by no means hoping to sort of unseat the conservatives and become the party of government. what he does want to do is unseat a lot

the lib dems have attained all councils - is the country wants change. bl dems have attained all councils they held, strong night for the green party. more than half the results have yet to be declared. all of the latest. hello. welcome to the programme. all the results and of course crucially what it all means. not all of the results are in yet and we may have to wait until saturday for the full picture. so far, it looks like the conservatives are having a rough time. they have lost around half the council seats they were defending, similar to how they performed in 1995. two years later, they were crushed at the general election. labour, the green party, lib dems, they made gains. blackpool south huge swing from the conservatives. the story of the night, here is damian grammaticas.- the story of the night, here is damian grammaticas. labour party, 10,825. cheering and applause blackpool south a little before 5am and a decisive labour victory. they were confident of emerging winners at the by—election, but this was emphatic. at the by-election, but this w

we lib dems? we are also studying every seat- we need — lib dems? at 1215. bye—bye. today at one: a total of 25 years in prison for members of a benefit fraud gang who stole almost £54 million from the public purse. footage of them revelling in the fruits of their deception. the judge said they'd systemically plundered the state's support mechanism. 12—year—old richie parry and his father tom, missing in the scottish highlands — police say they have found two bodies. a child and three adults are in hospital after a shooting last night in east london. is your supermarket�*s loyalty points scheme pushing you to spend more than you can afford? and how the harries — that is, fans of harry styles — can now be guided around the village where he lived. and coming up on bbc news... "i feel at home" — vincent kompany speaks for the first time since he swapped burnley�*s manager dugout for bayern munich's.

of the lib dems and this is a - the lib dems and this is a huge swing _ the lib dems and this is a hugehe moment is going to be. think what angela said, the when the moment is going to be.” think what angela said, the scene you said, that's part of the problem for the conservatives because this is not our people feel. they don't feel like things are getting better and they think things are getting work and to say is rishi sunak does every week to say everything is fine and it's going great, it's not our people feel every day.— people feel every day. inflation cominn people feel every day. inflation coming down — people feel every day. inflation coming down doesn't _ people feel every day. inflation coming down doesn't actually i people feel every day. inflation - coming down doesn't actually mean that their— coming down doesn't actually mean that their bills _ coming down doesn't actually mean that their bills are _ coming down doesn't actually mean that their bills are getting _ coming down doesn't actually mean that their bills are getting less, - that their bills are getting less, it

>> well, that is very much what the lib dems are hoping . they the lib dems are hoping.nt. a border town between england and wales . they won it in wales. they won it in a by—election in 2019, but lost it three months later to the conservatives in the 2019 general election. ed davey is now hoping to win back this welsh. welsh. welsh seat and a few others around the country, and to do so , he has promised £1 and to do so, he has promised £1 billion to the agriculture sector to go towards training new farmers . he is also new farmers. he is also promising lots for rural communities in wales. now this is a tactic which he can sort of transpose over to wales from some of the liberal democrat campaigns in the south—west of england, in devon and cornwall, which used to be lib dem heartlands. before that coalition between david cameron and nick clegg. there is a lot of support for the rural community, particularly in making sure that rivers become less polluted and in ending the dentist drought. this is something which ed davey has been talking about in parliament a lot over th

in the lib dems were second to the tories last time, conservatives are still down but the lib dems areiciary. i find that for the interesting put up i find that for the interesting put up suggest that there is tactical voting going on for people who want to get a conservative incumbent out. and just finally on the big picture, from the results we have so far, this, the projected national share. this has been put together by all the bbc experts and election team trying to figure out if everybody had voted on that it had voted in the same lines of the people who did vote voted then this is what they would have that fight. this is interesting. conservatives, 25%. thatin interesting. conservatives, 25%. that in context, that is theirjoint lowest result ever in a bbc projected national share from a local election result. so that is bad. labour, ahead by 9%. same lead as they had last year. 34% is good but it is not quite the same levels that we were seeing when tony blair was in charge of the labour party in 1986, i997 was in charge of the labour party in 1986, 1997 before his landslide. ju

the lib dems ed davey's running a wheelie . weird campaign. >> i'm not asking for anything other than i've done them some huge favours over the years as a party. give me something back. we might have a conversation. >> is nigel farage about to do a deal with the tories? >> people were chanting death to america. >> some people were not everyone, but some people were. >> find out what a prominent member of the muslim faith had to say about that. and can you spot what's wrong with this? >> i've been a centrist conservative all my life , but i conservative all my life, but i think the party's really changed, and i think the last 14 years has done a real damage to the country . the country. >> on my panel is the director of the popular conservatives , of the popular conservatives, mark littlewood, activist and landlord adam brooks, and author and journalist rebecca reid. oh, and journalist rebecca reid. oh, and what do you think is in these balloons? i will reveal all very , very shortly. get all very, very shortly. get ready britai

we havejeremy hunt, gillian keegan — so the lib dems, if they can make serious progress in that partg night, then that really helps labour, because the lib dems are taking on the tories in seats where labour can't really win. so if the lib dems can take it to the tories in those places i'm talking about, and if they can be successful, then that's another source of help for keir starmer.— that's another source of help for keir starmer. �* . ., ., ~ ., keir starmer. adam, good to talk to ou, keir starmer. adam, good to talk to you. thanks — keir starmer. adam, good to talk to you. thanks very _ keir starmer. adam, good to talk to you, thanks very much _ keir starmer. adam, good to talk to you, thanks very much for— keir starmer. adam, good to talk to you, thanks very much for summing j keir starmer. adam, good to talk to i you, thanks very much for summing up the day for us. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some of the other stories making headlines in the uk today. cases of melanoma skin cancer are at an all—time high in the uk, with more than 20,000

what will the lib dems do 7 votes. what will the lib dems do ? blackie in first place, or will they think that he has absolutely no chance at all and put sadiq khan in first place? that could make a huge difference to the result of the vote. if it is as close as people are predicting or shock. susan hall manages to scrape a win, there will be questions over whether sadiq khan was the right candidate in london. here's what keir starmer had to say about that. >> sadiq khan was absolutely the right candidate. he's got two terms of delivery behind him and i'm confident that he's got another term of delivery in front of him. but look, if you look across the country, i'm standing here in mansfield in the east midlands , where we've the east midlands, where we've won a significant victory in the mayoral team here. but that's the pattern across the country. we've been winning in blackpool in a by—election with a 26% swing. we've won in york and nonh swing. we've won in york and north yorkshire, true blue tory territory and here in the east midlands, wher

but aside from headline grabbing stunts , do the lib dems actually stunts, do the lib dems actually haven i'm joined by former lib dem minister norman baker next. welcome back to patrick christys . tonight. still to come. tonight's panel will be whizzing you through the very first of tomorrow's front pages. every day this week , we have had a new day this week, we have had a new policy on one of the front pages, so stay tuned. but first, i welcome former liberal democrat minister norman baker. and the lib dems launched their welsh election campaign a little earlier today, with their leader ed davey, continuing his action packed schedule of falling off paddleboards and skidding down a hill on bicycles and just doing stuff like that , i thought he stuff like that, i thought he was going to smash through that orange wall himself. then for a second. >> but, well, we're getting a fantastic response from voters when we're knocking on people's doors . people are really clear. doors. people are really clear. they want the conservatives out and in so many areas, they know and in so many areas, th

mark, host and former lib dem mp and chairman of the party.dem spokesman told us tonight, the liberal democrats are home to people of all faiths and none, including many christians. three liberal democrat mps in neighbouring seats to sutton and cheam are practising christians, including party leader ed davey and the party's candidate selection process is overseen by the reverend margaret joachim. well, it's interesting, isn't it, because it was sir ed davey, of course, who last year said women can quite clearly have a penis, so make of that of what you will anyway, coming up, as rishi sunak launches this attack on sir keir starmer and labour, i believe that we will keep this country safe. >> and keir starmer's actions demonstrate that he won't be able to do that. >> will britain be less safe under a labour government? we debate that at 10:00. but next the civil service are opposing migrant crime league tables and a belfast court has ruled the rwanda bill, incompatible with its echr obligations. so are we doomed to be a migration nation forever

were today. it’s pretty popular and whether lib dems were toda. �*, , pretty popular and whether lib exactly that that makes it such a key _ were today. it's exactly that that makes it such a key policy - were today. it's exactly that that makes it such a key policy for i were today. it's exactly that that| makes it such a key policy for the liberal— makes it such a key policy for the liberal democrats. and this issue about— liberal democrats. and this issue about sewage being illegally dumped into sewer rivers and lakes by water companiesm — into sewer rivers and lakes by water companies... areas where they are hoping _ companies... areas where they are hoping to— companies... areas where they are hoping to pick up votes. it's not necessarily— hoping to pick up votes. it's not necessarily hugely controversial to say you _ necessarily hugely controversial to say you want clean water but kind of outline _ say you want clean water but kind of outline how — say you want clean water but kind of outline how you are planning to do that. _ outline how you are planning to do that, talking ab

there's about 80 of them, the lib dem say, according to their numbers.the snp first minister, has been tracking up a lot of miles also in the last couple of days, although i think he was trying to fly to shetland, but the plane could not take off because of the fog. but the plane could not take off i mean, it is worth saying before we leave this episode that you can get the number of mps in scotland onto a number of labour members in scotland onto a tandem. so that one of the, you know, one of the big issues in our country of the last 15 years has been the snp eating the labour vote in scotland. yes. and if we are talking about themes and framing that battle ground which we can usefully call scotland, we don't have to call it a wall. we can call it scotland. somebody tried to call it a tartan wall, didn't they? but yeah, i mean, its huge. so keir starmer was in glasgow on day two of the campaign, which was very telling, and he was at the scottish labour launch or the labour launch in scotland, depending which way around you want to put it literally on da

so the idea that we're seeing the lib dem leader, who i think only 13% of people know who the lib demis in the first place, but that it's not uncontroversial. politics on divisive policies is probably an ideal scenario for them. >> can i say something a bit controversial? although, to be fair, nigel said it on this show. is this just a giant bore off between two pretty uncharismatic matic personality free zones ? free zones? >> i think the main event of the yearis >> i think the main event of the year is going to be biden versus trump. and if you if you win before the election was called and i was just speaking to friends in whitehall, especially working across whitehall in different departments, they see the big hop being truss to sunak in terms of going from somebody who's quite out there to somebody sensible , and now we're somebody sensible, and now we're going from somebody sensible. if labour win in rishi sunak to somebody more just as sensible in keir starmer, and that's how the whitehall machine would view it as, as the tories are arguing more of a security risk. >> i mean, be

the lib dems have attained all councils i is the country wants change.

lib dems , have we mentioned lib dems, have we mentioned this? retained by the liberal democrats. it's a it's a stronghold for the lib dems, which of course. and they are very, very good of as a local campaigning. they're very good on local issues , much good on local issues, much stronger actually, than they are on the on the national front, which is interesting. never know quite why that is. anyway, they've won eight of the first ten seats to be declared. so as a result, as we wait for those other seats to come through, they have retained control of they have retained control of the council. >> well, those results will keep coming through this morning. of course, we're going to bring them to you as soon as we can on gb news. but first we're going to take a look at the weather with alex deakin . with alex deakin. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar, sponsors of weather on gb news . news. news. news. >> morning. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office here on gb news. again, some places looking fairly soggy today, but it shoul

the lib dems are on the up. that is the reaction from the lib dems.we are expecting one of the _ terms of candidates running? yes we are expecting one of the most i are expecting one of the most contentious elections we've had and one thing _ contentious elections we've had and one thing we are seeing that's different— one thing we are seeing that's different acl, speaks to the american electorate, they are disenchanted with both choices for president — disenchanted with both choices for president. many of the incumbent lawmakers are choosing retirement. the matter— lawmakers are choosing retirement. the matter which side you are on, they will— the matter which side you are on, they will tell you that the job isn't — they will tell you that the job isn't fun— they will tell you that the job isn't fun any more, it is so contentious and rancorous and personal— contentious and rancorous and personal and petty and ugly that i think— personal and petty and ugly that i think a _ personal and petty and ugly that i think a lot — personal and petty and ugly th

and for some reason they want the lib dems. but the lib dems are not.you know, they're not what they used to be. yeah, they're a radical left party. >> i mean, how do the lib dems do in scotland, i the guy, is it alex cole—hamilton? i think a lot of people, the area of south queensferry, which is just outside edinburgh, that's a liberal democrat stronghold, as with some places outside of saint andrews in the east neuk of fife. so the are i'm seen as credible and people do vote for them. so yeah, i don't think they're a complete busted flush. >> yeah, well this is going to be interesting to see if they can return to the kind of numbers they had. yes. pre what, 2011. yes. when they all or after sorry 2017. when does it all fall apart basically when they well they did the coalition in 2010. >> then they were punished for that. they were punished over the tuition fees. >> that basically is the punishment. over. yeah. right. i news now with the disturbing news now with the disturbing news that mumsnet may have been infiltrated, i better log in as mummy's tir

the campaign generally , the lib dem campaign generally, the lib dem campaign generally, the lib demrally is very much focused on winning specific seats, mainly from the conservatives and also from the snp. in scotland, there is no plan this time for the liberal democrats to sort of win the general election . that's what in general election. that's what in 2019, jo swinson, the former leader of the party, said that she would be the next prime minister. ed davey is very much not saying that this time round they just plan to get 40, maybe 50 seats from conservative mps, perhaps even some cabinet ministers in the south of england. ed davey is very careful not to criticise keir starmer. he is hoping that at some point the polls in this election will narrow to the point where we could be looking at a hung parliament and potentially the lib dems becoming kingmakers. he is very happy, though , to throw all happy, though, to throw all sorts of mud at the conservatives. we were talking to him earlier today and here's what he had to say. no we're really clear that taxes are not going to go up

but i think the lib dems, because the lib dems or the green party, the greens, you know, if you lookyouth of greta thunberg when she started. so you know, i know she's an extreme, you know, extraordinary example. but there are a lot of young people who do care deeply about things and want the world to be a better place and are very keen on the whole climate change issue, so that could skew things. and i think that's a good thing. >> i mean, it's worth pointing out that actually the average age of conscription to start is 18, and this has been pointed out on the message board. so, for example, let's have a look at this. a guy who is a gb news member says under 18 don't see combat . brenda says they're all combat. brenda says they're all falling for starmer's spin on the truth about the army. so actually, really, 16 year olds don't go to war and fight for their countries. is the argument there, also, what about this , there, also, what about this, which is giving 16 year olds the votes ? jasmine says as jilly, votes? jasmine says as jilly, here's a gb news member is a ridiculous idea.

the lib dems are defending just over 400, green partyjust over 100.her metro areas across england. mayors be chosen for the first time in the east midlands, the north—east and york and north yorkshire. voters will also choose the mayor of salford. and there are 37 police and crime commissioners which will also be chosen across england and wales, and we've already mentioned it, there is a westminster by—election in blackpool south. we will be there live in a moment. but first with what we can expect, here is our political editor chris mason. millions of decisions have been taken and thousands of aspiring decision—makers, politicians, white their fates. decision—makers, politicians, white theirfates. this is a patchwork set of elections running in and wales with a long tail of results. that goes on until saturday night. let's talk councils in england. these purple splodges is for councillors are being elected to 107 councils, many in the north west of england, also in the midlands and in towns around london. this is the scene in harlow and essex, a clas

had a long—running success at both counsel level and parliamentary level here in dorset, but the lib demsin parliamentary by elections and devon and somerset, as well as local council elections before the count started after the count started here, he was feeling confident that they could become the largest party here and the results so far it's difficult to tell really how it went but six seats for the conservatives, they are conservative hold, five for lib dems, two of those seats have been gained from the conservatives to add one seat declared for the greens, the campaign here has been very interesting in that sir ed davey has been here virtually every week, they've thrown a lot of resources at this, doorknocking, leafleting, and they've been saying that they've been relayed —— it really well received here. they've been disgruntled about the national government and nhs waiting times and in dentistry, they vary much been setting themselves as local liberal democrats, of focusing on things like affordable housing. the conservatives in contrast they tried to distance themselves from the n

the incumbent at the moment is the education secretary gillian keegan so the lib dems really are goinghave their work cut out to make inroads, but they have some things on their side — they did really well in local council elections last year, they control the district council and the city council of chichester. today, they will be launching their sewage policy, so it is kind of relevant that he has been out on the water. sir ed davey wants to bring home that liberal democrat message that they will be looking after waters, lakes, rivers, seas, they're concerned about clean water in the uk so they are launching their policy today, one plank of that policy will be to replace the water regulator 0fwat with a new oversight organisation which would involve local grassroots organisations such as environmental groups, which would be on the board of this regulator. they also want to see water bosses' bonuses cut and feel that water bosses' bonuses should not happen if there are sewage outages, so that's just part of the lib dems' policy that they are outlining today in chichester. the prime mi

there are lots of southern seats that the lib dems want to win off., that do want control of migration . and your policy is to migration. and your policy is to give that up? >> no, our policy is that to get to recognise that you won't solve the migration issue, but even more importantly, you won't rebuild our economic future unless you have close relationships with our key market, which is 22 miles away. >> it's got 30s left before i've got a cross back to gb news main studio. jacob, a last word to you. >> the weather in somerset will as always, be excellent. it's what i say at the end of this houn what i say at the end of this hour, every single night. so i thought i'd better get it in before we finish. well, there we go. >> i'm very glad we've had an opportunity to say that the weather in somerset will be much nicer than the weather on downing street that we all had to endure a little bit earlier this afternoon. we're going to cross now to patrick christys, who is live for us in our paddington studios. patrick what a day. i don't think either of us