Lib Dems celebrate their 55th MP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th Jul 2000

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has today congratulated Parmjit Singh Gill on his stunning by-election victory in Leicester South. Leicester South was the seen of yet another amazing Liberal Democrat by-election win much like Brent East last September.

Clear losers on the night were the Conservatives who trailed in a distant third not only in Leicester South but also in Birmingham Hodge Hill where the Liberal Democrats narrowly missed out on another sensational win from Labour.

Conservative sources echoed the cries after Brent East that the seats had not been 'Tory territory'. In urban areas up and down the country it is clear that Charles Kennedy's Liberal Democrats are the main challengers to Labour.