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Lib Dems are 'regaining momentum' Lib Dems are 'regaining momentum'
(about 5 hours later)
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg says his party "confounded expectations" in England and Wales' local elections.Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg says his party "confounded expectations" in England and Wales' local elections.
Mr Clegg insisted the party had performed well in its first test with him as leader despite falling short of its 2004 performance.Mr Clegg insisted the party had performed well in its first test with him as leader despite falling short of its 2004 performance.
Results so far give the party a 25% projected share of the national vote, beating Labour into third place.Results so far give the party a 25% projected share of the national vote, beating Labour into third place.
Mr Clegg said his party had proved it was "regaining momentum" and he was "delighted" with the result.Mr Clegg said his party had proved it was "regaining momentum" and he was "delighted" with the result.
'Doing well''Doing well'
He said: "We were 13% a few months ago, we're now 25%. We've overtaken Labour, we've taken seats off the Conservatives, we've taken seats off Labour.He said: "We were 13% a few months ago, we're now 25%. We've overtaken Labour, we've taken seats off the Conservatives, we've taken seats off Labour.
LIB DEM RESULTS Lib Dems gain 30 seatsKey Liberal Democrats win - Burnley, Kingston-Upon-Hull, Sheffield, St AlbansKey Liberal Democrats losses - Liverpool, Pendle
"Every time I opened a newspaper in the last month I was being told it would even be a good night if we lost a number of seats; we've won seats."Every time I opened a newspaper in the last month I was being told it would even be a good night if we lost a number of seats; we've won seats.
"If you call that a disappointment then we inhabit different planets. I am actually delighted, we are regaining momentum.""If you call that a disappointment then we inhabit different planets. I am actually delighted, we are regaining momentum."
A BBC projection based on the votes in councils in England and Wales put Labour's national vote share at just 24%, 20 points behind David Cameron's Conservatives on 44% and beaten into third place by the Liberal Democrats on 25%.A BBC projection based on the votes in councils in England and Wales put Labour's national vote share at just 24%, 20 points behind David Cameron's Conservatives on 44% and beaten into third place by the Liberal Democrats on 25%.