Liberal Democrats pledge to put 1p on income tax to pay for NHS as local election fightback falters – Telegraph.co.uk

A local election breakthrough for the Liberal Democrats fuelled by pro-European Union supporters angry about Brexit failed to materialise with overall losses of 37 seats.

Despite the poor showing, the partys vote share increased, prompting the party to claim it could win scores of seats at the general election on June 8.

The news came as the LibDems announced plans to put 1p on income tax to raise an extra 6billion to spend on hospitals and and social care.

Party president Baroness Brinton said the party was breathing down Labour's necks with a projected national vote of 18 per cent, up four per cent, against 27 per cent for Jeremy Corbyn's party.

Party sources said that, if repeated at the general election on June 8, seats from Bath and Cambridge to Cardiff Central and St Albans would fall to the LibDems.

Some forecasts said the party could win as many as 27 seats, treble the partys nine seats in the last parliament.

Lady Brinton said: We have halved the gap on Labour in just one night and scored our best national election result in seven years.

Labour is collapsing and we will stand up for people to provide the strong opposition this country needs.

Continue reading here:

Liberal Democrats pledge to put 1p on income tax to pay for NHS as local election fightback falters - Telegraph.co.uk