MANY thanks to everyone who voted for Liberal Democrat candidates in the recent council elections.

We retained all our seats in Fareham, and remain the only opposition to the ruling Conservatives. Nearby, Liberal Democrats strenghtened their grip on Eastleigh, made five gtains in Gosport, and captured a seat from the Tories just over the boundary in Whiteley.

Nationally, the Liberal Democrats made more than 30 net gains, taking control of big city councils such as Sheffield and Hull, and we overtook Labour in our share of the vote.

The nation clearly wants to see an end to the Labour Government. But equally clearly, voters do not want to see it simply replaced by another variety of arrogant one-party rule.