AFTER the recent Liberal Democrat by-election success in Richmond Park, some commentators dismissed this as being due to the fact that the constituency voted heavily for Remain in the referendum.

They were quick to dismiss Liberal Democrat prospects in seats that voted Leave.

Last Thursday, voters went to the polls in Sandhill ward in Sunderland, a city that voted very heavily in favour of Leave.

The Lib Dem candidate came from fifth to win the seat, increasing the party’s share of the vote from 3.5 per cent to 45 per cent while Labour, UKIP and Conservative vote shares plummeted, in Labour’s case by 30 per cent.

This followed 2016 as a record breaking year for by-election wins for the Lib Dems, most of the 32 gains coming in areas that voted Leave.

Since Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May have now become fans of Brexit, though May probably always secretly was, it falls to the Lib Dems and Tim Farron to be the standard bearers for the 48 per cent who favour progressive, internationalist politics.

This approach has some risks but appears to be proving very popular.

It also suggests that some voters who supported Leave now realise that they were conned.

As the advert said, the future’s bright - the future’s orange.

Tony Fisher, Liberal Democrat spokesman for Strensall ward, West End, Strensall, York