Tories get the 'yellow card' as Lib Dems surge in Bromley

10.39.08am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 30th Jun 2006

Party leader Menzies Campbell campaigns with Lib Dem by-election candidate Ben Abbotts

The Liberal Democrats have come within a whisker of winning ultra-Tory Bromley & Chislehurst constituency in a by-election. The Conservative majority collapsed from over 13,000 to just 633 votes as electors turned their backs on David Cameron's party.

Bournemouth Liberal Democrat party chair, Andrew Garratt says:

"This surge to the Lib Dems has given the Tories the yellow card. David Cameron's easy ride is over. Voters have made it clear that they want more than policy-free soundbites from the Conservatives.

"Earlier this year the Liberal Democrats took the safe Labour seat of Dunfermline West. Now we've come within a whisker of beating the Tories. It's clear that voters are increasingly looking to the Lib Dems."

It was even worse news for Labour. Tony Blair's party fell from second to fourth place. And in by-elections in Wales failed to win back former Labour strongholds.