The Liberal Democrats were jubilant after a win in Torbay, a key Tory target seat. A party gathering in London cheered as Adrian Sanders retained the seat with a majority of 6,708 votes. Liberal Democrats director of communications David Walter said: "This is an absolutely fantastic result. He has been a very good local MP and Torbay is regarded as rock solid Conservative territory, the area of Fawlty Towers and OAPs. He had a majority of just 12 last time and we thought it would be a very tight race."
Susan Kramer, the party's candidate for London mayor last year, added: "This is a terrific kick-off to the evening."
Her sentiments were echoed by party chiefs in Knightsbridge, central London, where the mood was buoyant.