Vote tactically in Tiverton to KO Boris Johnson, says Ed Davey

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Lib Dem leader Ed Davey called on Labor supporters to back his party’s candidate in Thursday’s by-elections in Tiverton and Honiton

LIB Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has urged Labor supporters to deal a “knock-out blow” to Boris Johnson by voting tactically in this week’s crunch by-election.

Voters will attend the polls in Tiverton and Honiton in Devon to choose a replacement for Neil Paris, the Tory who quit after admitting to watching porn in the House of Commons.

Sir Ed said: “People across Devon are fed up with having a liar and lawbreaker as Prime Minister when they see their health services driven into the ground and farming communities neglected.

“More and more voters are backing our candidate Richard Foord, who will be a strong voice for Devon in Westminster, rather than another backbench Tory MP who will do as the party bosses in London tell her.”

Local activists predict the vote between the Lib Dems and the Tories will be “very close”.

And according to internal polls by the Lib Dem, they are two points behind the Tories in the seat – the same lead they saw ahead of their North Shropshire by-election victory.

It would be a double whammy for the Prime Minister as Labor would have a chance of retaking Wakefield in a by-election later that day.

Losing both seats would once again put Mr Johnson at serious risk of being ousted by his own MPs.

Sir Ed added: “If we could beat the Conservatives here in one of their surest spots and overthrow the largest by-election majority in political history, it would send shivers down the spines of hundreds of Tory MPs.

“The future of the country is at stake. If Labor supporters vote tactically and support the Liberal Democrats in Tiverton and Honiton, they can help KO Boris Johnson.”