Congratulations to all the very many Liberal Democrats who stood for local council seats this month.

Local democracy relies on those who put themselves forward to represent residents, so whether you won or not, I hope you will be proud of having stood.

As a party, we saw results greatly exceeding expectations, with a big net gain of 75 councillors and four new councils under Liberal Democrat majority control.

We're looking for members for two new policy working groups: one on health and social care and one on climate change.

Do you have expert knowledge of the healthcare system? Of social care? Or climate change and energy policy?

If so there is an opportunity to help set the direction of party policy on these issues by joining a policy working groups. The party's Federal Policy Committee is launching two new working groups: a Health and Social Care working group and a Climate Change and the Low Carbon Environment working group.

I've been blown away by the thousands of people who have joined the campaign to ban upskirting so far.

Together, I know we can achieve a change in the law.

Two weeks ago at Prime Minister's, Questions the Prime Minister said the Government were considering supporting my bill ban upskirting. We need to make sure her warm words are backed up with action

Trump's decision to scrap US participation in the Iran nuclear deal is reckless and short-sighted.

The deal is far from perfect, but it is better to work with our partners to make changes than to pull out altogether and risk heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Trump's careless actions serve as another reminder of the enormous value of our EU partners.

Thank you! Thank you for everything that gave us the best election night in some years.

We took control of four councils: Richmond & Kingston in London, Three Rivers District in Hertfordshire, and South Cambridgeshire District.

We also had a great increase in the net councillors across England, +75, just behind Labour on +79. The Tories had -33, with UKIP -123.

The Liberal Democrats are seeking a highly qualified volunteer with significant experience of financial and compliance matters at a high level to become their Registered Treasurer and Chair of the Federal Finance and Resources Committee.

The FFRC Chair and Registered Treasurer of the Party is a senior role within the party that requires a substantial commitment beyond the Chairing of the FFRC, including attending and contributing to both the Federal Board and the Operations Committee (a sub-committee of the Board comprising the Vice Chairs, English and Welsh Chairs, the Scottish Convenor and all the Federal Committee Chairs), as well as being an ex-officio member of the Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

Last night Theresa May suffered yet another series of damning defeats in the Lords, exposing the ever-increasing anger at her administration's undemocratic, destructive approach to Brexit.

So far the government has been defeated a total of 14 times, with the Lords rejecting the Brexit deadline and exit date, securing a meaningful vote in the Commons, and quashing attempts to hand ministers 'blank cheque' powers.

Specifically, the Privacy Policy and a set of Fair Processing Notices (FPN). Both are vital to telling people how we will use, store and collect their data. This is a major milestone in our preparations for GDPR. All information gathered under the new legal notices will be compliant.

You can view the notices and related guidance here: https://www.libdems.org.uk/privacy-advice

An online webinar covering the specifics of the notices has been arranged for Thursday 10th May from 6.00pm. https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8679668325408153603

Amendments to the legislation have meant publishing has taken longer than hoped. For our lawyers and the Project Team, it's meant some late nights.

Now is the time to start adding a suitable version of the new FPN wherever you are gathering information. Be this online, in emails or on leaflets. The next step is the reconsent campaign, asking email recipients to opt-in to receiving communication. You will receive advice on this shortly.

For parties using Nationbuilder or Prater Raines websites, the information will be auto-updated. However, if your local party is on a different system then please let us know at help@libdems.org.uk immediately.

The Government have received their eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth defeats in the House of Lords during the Report stage of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

A vote on an amendment to ensure our future interaction with EU law and agencies was passed by a cross-bench majority of 298 to 227

A further vote on an amendment to remove the exit date from the bill passed by a cross-bench majority of 311 to 233.

'Harborough Ambulance Provision and Shared Blue Light Services - Future Looks Positive

that's the initial comments from Health Campaigner Phil Knowles following a top-level meeting

in Market Harborough.

Only weeks ago Phil Knowles 'broke the news' that the current Market Harborough Ambulance Station was up for sale and that urgent assurances were needed in respect of the future of the Ambulance Service provision. Cllr Knowles confirmed at the same time that he had been told that the closure of the old site would see a joint use by the Ambulance Service with Police at the current Market Harborough Police Station. Bosses from EMAS asked Cllr Knowles for a meeting to discuss his concerns and to outline the plans.

All across the country Lib Dems gained seats in Thursday's local elections. We actually gained 75 councillors in total and more than any other party including Labour which only managed 59. Four councils were gained - South Cambridgeshire, Three Rivers, Kingston and Richmond. Amazing results!

Vince Cable wrote, "Today we're enjoying our best set of local election results in a decade."

Pollsters estimate our share of the vote was 16% with Labour and the Conservatives at 35% each. The Green party also did well and analysts put much of the success of the Lib Dems and the Greens down to being anti-Brexit (as well as much hard work).

On Thursday, England went to the polls in the local elections - and going in the pundits weren't exactly predicting a great night for us:

Net seat changes prediction from @StephenDFisher at Oxford (and also of the GE exit poll team):

CON +8
LAB +131
LD -83https://t.co/wzhjyaUwi6 pic.twitter.com/5QxOtforCy

- Number Cruncher Politics (@NCPoliticsUK) May 2, 2018

Firstly, I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard in these elections.

Whether you got the result you hoped for or not; you have done a fantastic job. Thank you.

So far it looks like we're on course for a great set of results.

We've defended our Councils in Eastleigh, Cheltenham and Sutton. We have also pulled off a spectacular victory in taking control of Richmond.

We've made gains in Hull, Liverpool, Sunderland, Gosport, West Oxfordshire, Cambridge, Sheffield, Portsmouth, Winchester and St Albans. We've held our ground in places like Southwark.

All over England, people are voting Liberal Democrat today - because they know they'll get Councillors who will champion quality social care, strong local schools, and well-funded services.

And - even better, thousands of people have been tweeting to say why they're voting for their local Lib Dem candidates - here are a few of our favourites:

What was the amendment on Monday evening?

Amendment 50 of the EU Withdrawal Bill Report Stage in the House of Lords put the option of the public final say on the deal before the House of Commons. This would include an extension of Article 50 so that there would be time for the vote to be held before the UK is due to leave the EU.