It comes as the exit poll forecast a more than five-fold increase in the party's share of House of Commons seats compared to 2019 and as the party made its first gain of the night from the Tories in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Party sources described victory against Mr Chalk in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, as"a massive result for the Liberal Democrats and demonstrates the anger that so many Conservative voters have for this government". When polls closed, Mr Davey said that his party is"on course for our best results in a century, thanks to our positive campaign with health and care at its heart".
First to oust the Tories in a Yorkshire seat, new Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon posted to X, formerly Twitter:"The first brick in the blue wall has come crashing down in Harrogate and Knaresborough tonight."