The outcome of the general election on 4 July 2024 was extraordinary. Compared to the 2019 election, the Liberal Democrats’ share of the vote rose by less than 1 per cent, to 12.2 per cent, but the number of MPs jumped from 11 (plus 4 by-election gains) to 72, the highest number since 1923.

Highly effective targeting of campaigning resources and a narrowly focused message, combined with an unprecedented collapse in the Conservative vote and a high degree of tactical voting by anti-Tory voters meant that, for the first time ever, the first-past-the-post electoral system did not seriously disadvantage the party. With 10.9% of the total number of MPs, the discrepancy between Liberal votes and seats is the smallest since 1910. Traditional areas of strength in south-west and northern England and northern Scotland lost in 2015 were regained, and joined by new seats in East Anglia and, especially, in southern England.

Discuss the Liberal Democrat campaign and what the result means for the party with Professor Paula Surridge (Bristol University) and Dave McCobb (Director of Field Campaigns, Liberal Democrats). Chair: Lord Wallace of Saltaire. The meeting will start at 1830, following the AGM of the Liberal Democrat History Group at 1800 (note these times are 30 minutes earlier than originally advertised). For those unable to participate, Zoom access will be available; you must register here (the same link will work for both the AGM and the speaker meeting). (Online access is limited to 100 people, so don’t leave it too late to register!) For in-person participation, you do not need to register. You do not need to be a subscriber to the Journal of Liberal History to attend the meeting (apart from the AGM).