Lib Dems say council results show they can take Westminster seats from Tories

‘We are ready for the general election and so is the country,’ said Davey. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

Ed Davey has pointed to strong showings by the Liberal Democrats at council elections in areas they are targeting at the next general election as a sign they can advance into Conservative territory.

The party leader said it was “still too early to see the whole picture in this set of elections, but clearly there are some fantastic results for the Liberal Democrats”.