In my piece yesterday I've focused on the need for the Liberal Democrats to have a clear vision about how to build a durable liberal voice in British politics. Here Tim Farron gives his take on the current situation and how the party should respond to it..

2016 has been a year that has confounded conventional political expectations. Any idea of a liberal consensus has been turned on its head. Brexit and Trump are its biggest headlines. Elsewhere in the world there is the rise of Marine le Pen, the Alternative für Deutschland and Rodrigo Duterte. They each advocate nationalistic, right-wing populism, claiming falsely it is possible to provide easy solutions to complex problems.

These populist movements and politicians have gained traction by tapping into people's genuine anger at feeling let down and dispossessed by the mainstream political classes. They have also created a simple and emotive story that explains how people feel and makes it feel okay to vote for things that they would never have considered voting for, even a few years ago.

For us, here in Britain, Brexit presents the biggest challenge to us since the Second World War. Its handling will define our place in the world for generations. It will also determine our economic, social and political direction for many, many years.

All of this makes Sarah Olney's victory in Richmond Park all the more satisfying - and my most rewarding experience so far as leader. Building on Liz Leffman's fantastic result in Witney, and our continued astonishing success in local government, we have demonstrated that it is possible to challenge this new Brexit establishment.

I still believe that leaving the European Union is perilous for our country and I am absolutely certain that Theresa May is mismanaging the process. That is why I am determined the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold her government to account - a government which has no popular mandate beyond a referendum that charted no destination for the United Kingdom in its relationship with Europe and the rest of the world.

But there is another challenge for our party.

In 2017, populist ideologues from the right and the left will continue to stoke racism, hatred and division. They will continue to look for simple, authoritarian solutions, trading civil liberties for so-called security and seeing diversity and multiculturalism as a threat, not a strength. I believe our liberal values embody the best values of the United Kingdom. We must give those values a passionate voice and a story that people can identify with.

We must demonstrate that Conservative elites are pursuing Brexit at the expense of rising inequalities in health and education. We must point out the huge damage being done to our culture of entrepreneurship. And we must highlight how their short-termism is jeopardising our commitment to fighting climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for future generations.

Do so successfully and we have the potential to build a core of support behind our party. We can speak to those who are internationalist, concerned about the environment, suspicious of an over-bearing state, concerned that politicians in Westminster are out of touch with Britain's diverse communities, and those who believe in both free enterprise and fairness.

Our victory in Richmond Park is an important first step in speaking up for a different kind of Britain. It is a first step at reclaiming the character of our country as one that is open, tolerant and united.