A leaked document has revealed that the Lib Dems are set to aunch a massive "tactical voting" push to try to squeeze the Labour vote in more than 50 Tory seats.
Sir Ed Davey’s party is hoping to regain its place as the third party in the Commons from the Scottish National Party and will be targeting at least 53 Tory-held seats in the “blue wall” in the coming weeks.
The MRP superpoll overnight suggests that their aim is within reach predicting 51 Lib Dem gains if there is tactical voting. The initiative is called “Operation 1997” in an attempt to recreate the 1997 election campaign led by the late Lord Paddy Ashdown when the party won 46 seats as a result of tactical voting.
After a start to the campaign dominated by Sir Ed doing stunts, including falling off a paddleboard, the memo from Dave McCobb, the party’s director of field campaigns, suggests that they have “got off to a flying start”.
In the document addressed to Rhiannon Leamon, the leader’s chief of staff; Mike Dixon, the party chief executive; and Olly Grender, the director of communications; he claimed that “the feeling on the ground is that this is a once-in-a-generation election akin to 1997”. He went on: “We have now delivered a staggering 2 million leaflets since Rishi Sunak stood on the steps of Downing Street last week. On top of that, we have knocked on 100,000 doors in key election battlegrounds.”
Denne historien er fra June 02, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 02, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Nepotism debate behind NBA's first father-son act
LeBron and Bronny James are set to become the first father and son to play on the same team in tonight's season opener
The moment Verstappen ended Norris's title hopes
So often a figure of joviality in the Formula One paddock, Lando Norris did not muck around at the end of the US Grand Prix.
Klopp can thrive at Red Bull despite the betrayal taunts
Not everyone is thrilled by Jurgen Klopp's new global role
Clubs seek answers to fresh Newcastle takeover claims
Leaked WhatsApp messages appear to contradict the 'legally binding assurances' of the separation between the Public Investment Fund and the Saudi state
Airlines at Gatwick fight for pilots in recruitment push
EasyJet offers captains a salary of up to 170k to attract staff
'I've lost friends and family members - but right's right'
Andrew Feinberg speaks to the former Trump voters who are now planning to pull the lever for Kamala Harris - and the campaign politicos who came up with an unusual strategy
Blinken heads to Israel in hopes of ceasefire progress
US secretary of state Antony Blinken is heading to the Middle East, making his 11th trip to the region since the war in Gaza erupted last year and as Israel steps up attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon and operations in the Gaza Strip.
South Korea recalls envoy over claims North Korean forces helping Putin's war
South Korea yesterday demanded the immediate pullout of North Korean troops allegedly deployed in Russia as it summoned the Russian ambassador to protest deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Moldova commits to join EU after narrowest of votes
Incumbent president Maia Sandu claims that foreign forces with links to Russia tried to influence referendum's outcome
Woman admits assault after milkshake attack on Farage
A woman has admitted throwing a milkshake over Nigel Farage while he was campaigning in Essex ahead of this summer's general election.