Published: 11:24 PM May 3, 2018 Updated: 8:40 AM September 18, 2020

Sir Vince Cable has said that the Lib Dems are 'on the way back' after this week's local elections which saw the party reclaim Richmond council for the first time in eight years.

Sir Vince said: 'It's certainly the beginning of the comeback of the Lib Dems. It's not going to happen overnight - Rome wasn't built in a day.

'Morale is now very high. We have demonstrated that we can win when we are focused and we can only build on that.'

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The party enjoyed success across the UK and by early morning had gained more councillors than all the other parties combined, according to Sir Vince.

He said: 'We aimed to gain more councillors and build a bridgehead in towns and cities across the country.

'We had a good result in Hull and made some inroads in Sunderland, Liverpool and other northern cities which are Brexit rather than Remain. I think that's the breadth of recovery that is so significant.

'We are very much on the way back.'

Sir Vince ruled out the suggestion that the Lib Dems won Richmond - a heavily Remain voting constituency - purely on local residents' disagreement with Brexit.

Cuts to local schools and policing are why the Conservatives were unseated, Sir Vince believes.

'I noticed it very much when out knocking on doors,' he said.

'We haven't had a serious issue with crime for years, but it's now on its way back up. The Government have very clearly taken their eye off the ball.'

Already looking forward to the next general election, Cable said: 'There are probably several years before the next general election so what we will see I think is the momentum we had last night carry through.'