Jo Swinson has lost her seat – and the Lib Dems will need a new leader

Britain's Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson reacts as she speaks on stage after losing her seat at the East Dunbartonshire count centre in Bishopbriggs, north of Glasgow, on December 13, 2019 after votes were counted as part of the UK general election. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Jo Swinson has been defeated in East Dunbartonshire, losing her seat to the SNP’s Amy Callaghan. It means that the Liberal Democrats will have to elect a new leader – from an almost entirely new parliamentary party.

It caps off a disappointing night for the party, who hoped to deprive the Conservatives of a parliamentary majority, but were defeated not only in Swinson’s seat but have lost both North Norfolk and Eastbourne. Retirements, coupled with expected further losses in Scotland, means that the next leader will be drawn from a largely neophyte parliamentary party.