Lib Dems announce surge in membership since snap election called

The Liberal Democrats have said their membership is set to pass the 100,000 mark following a surge of new joiners in the wake of Theresa May's announcement of a snap general election.

The party said it has signed up 12,500 new members since the Prime Minister said she would be going to the country on June 8 and expected to reach its highest total in its history "within days".

The previous record was 101,768 in 1994.

Tim Farron, who pledged to build the membership to 100,000 when he became leader in 2015, said: "People want a strong opposition to Theresa May's hard Brexit agenda and the Liberal Democrats are the only party challenging them up and down the country."