‘Bring it on’: North Devon Lib Dem candidate welcomes next election after a bad by-election night for the Conservatives

North Devon’s Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate has said he ‘can’t wait’ for the next general election after the party swept to victory in last night’s Somerset and Frome by-election.

Ian Roome, the Lib Dem candidate for North Devon, hailed a ‘fantastic night’ as Sarah Dyke won 54.6 per cent of the vote in the Somerset constituency, giving the Lib Dems a majority of 11,008 and overturning a Conservative majority of 19,000.

But the current Conservative North Devon MP Selaine Saxby said by-elections were often lost by a sitting government.

The Somerset by-election was triggered by the resignation of David Warburton, who was suspended from the Conservative Party over allegations of sexual misconduct.

In a night of three by-elections, the Conservatives did cling on to former prime minister Boris Johnson’s seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip with a slender majority of 495 votes, while Labour ousted the Conservatives in Selby and Ainsty with a huge swing.

Commenting on the results, North Devon’s Lib Dem candidate Mr Roome, who is currently leader of North Devon Council, said: “It’s been another fantastic night for the Lib Dems in the West Country, and I’m so delighted for Sarah and all the volunteers who helped her to win this seat.”

Referring to last year’s Lib Dem win in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election, he added: “First Tiverton and Honiton, then Somerton & Frome – it’s got to be North Devon next! I will be giving absolutely everything to bring North Devon back to the Lib Dems at the next general election, which will probably be next year.

“We are already putting together a fantastic team of supporters and volunteers, and I firmly believe that the people of North Devon have had enough of this government and their MPs. They have been taking people for granted in our area for far too long and it’s time for a change. And when the election is called, I’ll be ready to deliver that change.”

North Devon MP Selaine Saxby said the party would heed the warning: “It is important to recognise voters in Somerton and Frome have sent us a message that they want their politicians focusing on the issues that matter to them.

“This seat was always going to be tough given the circumstances of the by-election. By-elections are different to general elections, the result does not change the government and with voter apathy and a chance of a free hit against the incumbent party, sitting governments tend to lose.

“Over the coming months and into next year we as Conservative MPs will continue to focus our efforts on doing the right thing by the country and working hard for our constituents; sticking to our plan and earning back the trust of those voters who did not come out on this occasion to support our excellent candidate, Faye Purbrick.”