Liberal Democrats Our biggest achievements of the year







Building our momentum in 2025



This year, Liberal Democrats built on our historic General Election success,
growing our party with fantastic local wins and delivering important change in
Parliament.

We are going from strength to strength and head into 2026 ready to bang the
drum for liberalism in another crucial year of elections.

Here are some of our top achievements from 2025!




Incredible local election results



163

councillors net gain


3

majority control councils net gain


7th

set of gains in a row at local elections


In May, for the first time in history, the Liberal Democrats beat both the
Conservatives and Labour at the same local elections across England.

We elected 370 councillors overall, gaining overall control on
Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Shropshire councils, and also beat the
Conservatives to become the largest party in Devon, Gloucestershire,
Hertfordshire, and Wiltshire.

We now control more councils than the Conservatives for the first time ever -
and we are on course to beat them at the next General Election!

And it wasn’t just in May’s elections that we made great gains - in 2025, we
won more council by-elections than any other party, winning 106 seats!



It sets us up well for a crucial 2026 - with Scottish Parliament, Welsh
Senedd, and local elections across much of England coming up in May.





We can’t do any of this without your support



Our party only functions thanks to our hardworking volunteers and supporters.

Our volunteers have helped us reach millions of voters this year, spreading
our message of hope, and ensuring local communities are heard.

Whether it be knocking on doors, delivering leaflets, making phone calls,
helping with admin, sharing our work online, or doing anything else to advance
our campaigns this year - your support makes a real difference.

If you volunteered in any capacity this year, thank you for everything you do.




Conferences in Harrogate and Bournemouth


Lib Dems from across the country came together for Spring Conference in
Harrogate and Autumn Conference in Bournemouth, celebrating our achievements
and getting campaign-ready for the races ahead.

We passed new policies, heard powerful speeches, levelled-up with training -
and we had lots of fun along the way, with exciting rallies and fun social
events.

You can read all the motions passed at both Conferences here:


Conference Motions ➜ <[link removed]>



Changing the law 📜


Our MPs and Peers have achieved important wins in Parliament this year,
passing new laws and amending key legislation:


Fitting solar panels to all new homes


Max Wilkinson MP’s Bill to ensure solar panels are fitted to all new homes led
to a Government commitment to include the measures in the updated Future Homes
Standard. This key change will cut energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and
improve Britain's energy security.


Read more ➜ <[link removed]>

Free School Meals


After years of Lib Dem campaigning, the Government finally listened - any
child in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will be eligible from
next year. This change will improve children's nutrition, boost educational
attainment, and help families struggling in the cost of living crisis.


Read more ➜ <[link removed]>

Protecting survivors of domestic abuse


Josh Babarinde MP secured a change in the law to see domestic abusers properly
identified at sentencing. This will close a dangerous loophole that saw
domestic abusers released early from prison because they were convicted of
general offences like ABH, assault or battery - posing a threat to victims.


Read more ➜
<[link removed]>

Banning puppy smuggling


Danny Chambers MP’s Bill to end puppy smuggling became law. The new law will
ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months old, as well as
mutilated or heavily pregnant dogs and cats, protecting animal welfare and
human health.


Read more ➜ <[link removed]>

Improving homes for military families


In October, the Government agreed to include the contents of our House of
Lords amendment in the Renters’ Rights Bill, requiring the Ministry of Defence
to assess service family housing annually against the Decent Homes Standard,
helping tackle poor living conditions.


Read more ➜
<[link removed]>

Court transcripts


Since 2023, Sarah Olney MP has campaigned for survivors of rape and sexual
abuse to have free access to transcripts of their court proceedings, after one
of her constituents was asked to pay over £7,000. In May, the Government
announced victims of rape and sexual assault will be able to access sentencing
remarks without charge, providing clarity and support for victims.


Read more ➜
<[link removed]>


Winning in Parliament


Alongside these crucial law changes, we secured other essential wins that have
demonstrated the will of Parliament and put pressure on the Government:


Winning a vote on a new UK-EU Customs Union


With a majority of one, MPs backed Dr Al Pinkerton MP’s Private Members’ Bill
calling on the Government to begin negotiations with the EU on a new, bespoke
Customs Union. Doing so would remove trade barriers and red tape, turbocharging
our economy. With 13 Labour backbenchers voting in favour, the Government
should now listen and give the Bill time for a proper debate in Parliament next
year.


Read more ➜ <[link removed]>

Defeating Farage’s plan to undermine human rights


When Nigel Farage presented a bill to Parliament to withdraw from the ECHR, it
was up to Lib Dem MPs to stop him in his tracks, making the case for our proud
tradition of freedom, fairness and justice. While Labour Ministers sat on their
hands and the Conservatives voted with Farage, our votes were enough to defeat
the Bill and protect our hard-won rights.


Read more ➜
<[link removed]>

Thanks to the incredible work of our MPs and Peers, we haven't been able to
include every win here.

You can find more of our recent wins here
<[link removed]> and we also share as much
of this as we can in our monthly Parliament newsletter - keep an eye out for
more of these in 2026!




Campaigning for change


We continued to make the headlines in 2025 - here are three highlights:


Customs Union campaign


In January, Ed Davey announced our plans to negotiate a new, bespoke UK-EU
Customs Union.

Our campaign gained great support and coverage throughout the year, gaining
over 11,000 signatures and culminating in a successful House of Commons vote
for Dr Al Pinkerton MP’s Bill.


Watch / Read Ed's Speech ➜
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Read the Independent’s coverage ➜
<[link removed]>

Add your name to our campaign ➜ <[link removed]>


Taking on Nigel Farage and Reform UK


Our liberal values are the antithesis to Reform UK’s divisive and destructive
policies.

At Autumn Conference, we confronted Reform’s rhetoric head-on. Tim Farron MP
called on people to reclaim the flag as a symbol of unity, tolerance and
respect at the Conference Rally, while Ed Davey’s keynote speech warned of the
spectre of Trump’s America becoming Farage’s Britain.


Conference Replay ➜
<[link removed]>

Read BBC coverage of Ed’s speech ➜
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Read The Guardian’s coverage of Tim’s speech ➜
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Balance the BBC


In September, we launched a campaign for fair political coverage on the BBC
following months of wall-to-wall coverage of Nigel Farage and Reform UK.

Currently, broadcasters must only give proportionate weighting to parties
based on their parliamentary heft during the regulated period, which operates
during elections. We’re calling for proportional coverage year-round.

The campaign took on new precedence following US President Trump’s recent
attacks on the BBC. We need to make sure the BBC is strong enough to stand up
to political pressure, whether foreign or domestic.

Read Max Wilkinson MP’s letter to Ofcom calling for these changes:


Read more ➜ <[link removed]>

Add your name to our campaign ➜ <[link removed]>


Our impact online 🛜


Top post on social media


The BBC is the world’s number one source of trusted news but in recent months
US President Trump has pressured it over its leadership, attacked its
journalists as corrupt, and is now suing it for billions.

In November, Ed Davey wrote to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage,
urging them to condemn Trump’s attacks on the BBC. His letter received millions
of views across our social media channels.


Read Ed's letter ➜
<[link removed]>

Most watched video across our social media channels


The Conservatives’ botched Brexit deal with the EU, championed by Nigel
Farage, failed to replace critical agreements, such as the Dublin Regulation,
which allowed the UK to return certain asylum seekers to other European
countries.

On a BBC Question Time special focussing on immigration, Daisy Cooper MP
explained how the number of asylum seekers arriving by boat went from 0 in 2017
to 46,000 a year now as a result, calling on Nigel Farage to apologise.


Watch ➜ <[link removed]>

Follow all our social media channels below to stay up to date with everything
we’re doing:


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A crucial year ahead…



In 2026, we’ll continue to do what millions of people voted for us for - to
fight for our local communities and a fairer, more prosperous future for our
country.

In elections for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, and councils and
mayoralties across England, we have the chance to take the fight to Reform,
defeat division with hope, and give more people the representation they deserve.

We’ll continue to demolish the Conservatives' crumbling Blue Wall and hold
the Labour Government to account.

If you want to join our fight for the liberal Britain we all believe in, make
it your New Year’s resolution and become a member today!

You’ll also be able to vote on future policy, join our exclusive events, gain
access to training, and much more.



Join the Liberal Democrats ➜
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Find out more about the benefits ➜ <[link removed]>


Already a Member?
Get in touch to let us know at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
so that we can check your record.




Best wishes,





Liberal Democrats





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