Thousands of new members join Lib Dems

6.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th Jul 2010

Lib Dem party membership grew by a remarkable 14% in the first half of this year, according to official figures released by the party in England. Thousands of new members have joined the party since the election and the coalition agreement was reached, with the party also having greater success in retaining current members than in previous years.

So there is no truth in the rumours (apparently spread by disappointed Labour activists) that the coalition is leading to mass resignations - not even a loss of membership through members not renewing.

In fact Lib Dem membership has continued to grow since the election and the coalition agreement, with 10 new members joining for every one member leaving. What's more the rate of membership renewal has increased significantly compared with last year.

Increased membership is reported in every Region of England, with new members more evenly spread across the country than in the past. The new members have also reduced the average age of the Party.