Lib Dems ‘on course to topple leading Tories’ in general election

Local election results in England justify the decision to focus on Conservative areas, claim party strategists

The Liberal Democrats are increasingly confident that they will claim more than one Tory big beast" at the coming general election, pointing to local election results putting them ahead in a series of true blue constituencies.

Ed Davey's party has been criticised for failing to improve its polling performance in recent months, while its 17% projected vote share from last week's local elections was down slightly on last year.