The undemocratic First-past-the-post voting system effectively disenfranchised 48.5% of those who voted in Richmond upon Thames on Thursday (7 May)" said campaign group Supervote's founder David Green. He added: "lt left nearly half of Richmond voters with no representation on the council and leaving the council with no opposition to hold the LibDems to account.

"These results are a disgrace. This was not what the voters of Richmond-upon-Thames had voted for.

"The Liberal Democrats won a slim majority of votes so should rightfully have a slim majority of the seats on the council, but those of other political persuasions should have had a voice as well."

The Lib Dems secured 51.5 per cent of the votes, miles ahead of the Conservatives with 17.9 per cent of the share – they were followed by the Greens at 16.1 per cent, Reform at 10 per cent and Labour at 4.5 per cent.

Green said: "As the results of Thursday's elections across England emerge, it is clear that, while Richmond's results are the most undemocratic to be published to date, other councils' results show that our First-past-the-post voting system is not fit for purpose.

"It is high time we reformed our voting system so that seats won by the parties reflect the votes cast for them.

"If Richmond residents had voted using the Single Transferable Voting system of proportional representation (the same voting system that is used in Northern Ireland and Scotland), it is calculated that the LibDems would have won 28 seats, the Conservatives would have won 10 seats, the Greens would have won 10 seats and Reform UK would have won two seats, with the 4 remaining seats being too close to call."

He continued: "The Liberal Democrats are long-standing supporters of voting reform so should use what has happened in Richmond to highlight the fact that they have won far more seats than their support warranted and demand that the Government takes action.

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"They could perhaps even offer up Richmond-upon-Thames for use in a pilot exercise for a fairer voting system before it is rolled out across the rest of England."

Nub News has contacted Richmond Council for statement.