It was just over a year ago, in July 2019, that Jo Swinson took over as leader of the Liberal Democrats, defeating Ed Davey to the top job before she was ousted from her parliamentary seat in the December election. Since her defeat, and subsequent resignation, Mr Davey has served as joint acting leader and now he faces Layla Moran in the next race to lead the party. 

For a party that prides itself on its local grassroots, local government is now more crucial than ever. With just 11 MPs – down from the giddy heights of the 2010 election where the Lib Dems took 57 seats and sat in coalition with the Conservatives – the party has majority control in 50 English councils and just under 2,750 councillors UK-wide.