will today launch the Liberal Democrat local elections
campaign with a vow to stop Reform's “Trump-style politics”
taking root in the UK and defend the “country we love.”
Speaking at a campaign launch event in Surrey, will say that the Liberal Democrats will stand up for a
country based on decency, tolerance and the rule of law, where
people look out for each other and public services can be relied
on. He will contrast that with Nigel Farage's plan to model the
UK on Trump's America, bringing chaos and division to British
streets.
Reform-led councils elected last year have mimicked the White
House in dodging media scrutiny, with an unprecedented ban on
local journalists in Nottingham. In Durham, they have scrapped
renewables projects that would've saved taxpayers tens of
thousands. Across the country, their Musk inspired DOGE projects
have failed to find savings, leading to Reform councils raising
council tax despite promising to cut it.
will set out how by contrast Liberal Democrat
councillors “do the hard work that actually gets things done,”.
The Liberal Democrats are campaigning to halve energy bills
within a decade, saving a typical household £870 a year. will accuse and of having “cheered on”
Donald Trump's war on Iran that is fuelling “Trump-flation” and
sending energy bills soaring, and will reiterate his call on
to prevent a £500 rise in
energy bills in May. The Liberal Democrats are also
focusing on boosting local high streets, improving local health
services and cleaning up rivers polluted by filthy sewage.
The campaign launch follows a series of historic gains which have
seen the Liberal Democrats elect a record number of MPs, beat the
Conservatives and Labour at the local elections last May for the
first ever and win more local by-elections in 2025 than any other
party.
The Liberal Democrats are expecting further breakthroughs across
the country in May, which would mark a record eighth set of
successful local election gains for the party. The party is
expecting to make significant gains in former Conservative
heartlands like Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex as well gaining
ground against Labour in places like London, Birmingham and
Newcastle.
In his keynote speech, Liberal Democrat Leader is expected to say:
“We are part of our communities. We're rooted in them, and we get
things done. We care about the people we serve, the places we
live and the country we love. Local champions, speaking up for
our communities, fighting for the real change we need and getting
things done.
“Fighting for local health services – so you can see a GP or a
dentist when you need one. Fighting for the environment, to stop
water companies pumping filthy sewage into our rivers and onto
our beaches. And fighting for British businesses, bringing life
back to our high streets, and cutting the cost of living for
everyone.
“Some politicians would rather divide our communities than fix
them. They'd rather point the finger of blame than get their
hands dirty. They want to import Donald Trump's nasty style of
politics over here.
“That's not who we are. We're different. We don't do division. We
do potholes and police officers, doctors' appointments and
cleaning up dirty rivers. We do the hard work that actually makes
people's lives better.
“The Liberal Democrats will change our politics so we can fix the
country we love. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats in May is a
vote for a strong local champion who will bring our communities
together and get the job done.”
The Liberal Democrats' local election campaign is focused
on five key issues:
-
Cut the cost of living: A plan to halve energy
bills within a decade, saving households an average of £870 a
year
-
Fix the NHS and care: Guarantee the right to
see a GP within seven days (or 24 hours for urgent cases) and
ending 12-hour A&E waits.
-
Rescue high streets: Give an emergency cut to
VAT for hospitality businesses, to bring prices down and boost
struggling high streets.
-
Clean up rivers: Ban water companies from
dumping raw sewage into local rivers and coastal areas.
-
Restore community policing: Ensure visible,
effective local policing to reduce crime.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Following the 2025 local elections, the Liberal Democrats now
run 75 councils compared to 65 run by the Conservative Party
(Source: Open Council Data).
- The Liberal Democrats won more councillors than either Labour
of the Conservatives in 2025 for the first time ever (BBC News).
- The Liberal Democrats won more local by-elections than any
other party throughout 2025, and more than Labour, the
Conservatives, and the Greens combined.
