TIM Farron has been named the new leader of Liberal Democrats, beating former party president Norman Lamb with 56.5% of the votes cast.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP announced his victory on Twitter saying: “THANK YOU! This is a liberal country. Our job now is to turn millions of liberals throughout the UK into Liberal Democrats #LibDemfightback.”

Brian Mathew, candidate for the Lib Dems in North Wiltshire for the recent election, was equally positive about the result.

“I’m very pleased with result,” he said. “Norman is a thoroughly decent man, but I feel Tim is the guy that has the dynamism to get people behind him.

“After the election we needed a process of rebuilding and reforming where we’re going to go.

“Tim is to the left of Nick Clegg and he’ll help all of us to find our role.

“He’s an inspirational character. I see him not just as a leader of the Lib Dems but a leader of the centre left in Britain.

“The phoenix is rising.”

Lib Dem county councillor for the Cotswolds Paul Hodgkinson celebrated Tim Farron’s victory in a tweet saying: “Brilliant news that Tim Farron is new Leader of the Lib Dems. Onwards and upwards with new energy and enthusiasm #LibDemFightback.”

Nick Clegg joined our local Lib Dems words of congratulations, tweeting: “Congratulations to new Lib Dems leader Tim Farron. It's a tough job but the best in politics. I know Tim will do us proud #LibDemfightback.”