Lib Dem candidate Jon Ball hits out against Vince Cable after recording over tactical voting plot

Lib Dem candidate Jon Ball hit back at Sir Vince Cable after he was overheard saying he “would find it difficult” to vote against pro-Remain Labour MP Rupa Huq
AFP/Getty Images
Kate Proctor9 May 2017
WEST END FINAL

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A snubbed Lib Dem activist has denied being a “paper candidate” after senior party figures were secretly recorded urging voters to pick Labour in tough marginal seats.

Jon Ball hit back at Sir Vince Cable after he was overheard saying he “would find it difficult” to vote against pro-Remain Labour MP Rupa Huq.

Mr Ball, who is standing in Ealing Central & Acton, said: “I have been out pretty much every day knocking on doors, so I’m certainly not a paper candidate.

"The position is clear that we are fighting for every vote. We are not doing a deal with Labour.”

Ealing Central and Acton

2015 MP: Rupa Huq

2015 majority 274 over the Conservatives

Mr Ball said he felt supported by his party, despite Sir Vince’s comments and remarks by Sarah Olney, the Lib-Dem candidate for Richmond Park, who was heard saying “we know we want Rupa to win in Ealing”.

Discussing tactical voting, she said the Lib Dems could stand “paper candidates” by not campaigning in some areas.

Today, Ms Huq said Sir Vince’s backing was a “significant development” in her campaign against Tory Joy Morrissey. She believes Mr Ball should step aside as the Greens have already.

Ms Huq said: “In a tight race, it’d be wrong to sacrifice a good independently minded pro-Remain MP due to the personal vanity of the already twice-loser Lib Dem candidate standing to further his council bid in 2018.

“[Mr Ball] barely kept his deposit last time.

"He’s got no realistic possibility that he’s going to win.”

It emerged today that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will be challenged by a “progressive forum” of Greens, Labour and Lib Dem activists in his South West Surrey seat after they backed Dr Louise Irvine of the National Health Action party.

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