Tory leader blasts “deceitful” Lib Dems
Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith is to launch an attack on the Liberal Democrats – Friday’s winner of the Brent East by-election – labelling them with “deceit and double standards.”
Mr Duncan Smith, whose grip of the Tory party will have slipped after candidate Uma Fernandes slumped to third place, dropping down a ranking from the result in the 2001 general election, will tell Scottish Conservative Party conference on Saturday:
“The lie that the Liberal Democrats are a moderate party of the centre was exposed like never before. I am determined that the campaign which won them Brent will lose them seats all over Britain at the next election.
“As our vote held up, we saw a move from left to left. But the party of Brent East cannot be the party of Newbury, Guildford and Aberdeenshire West.”
Lib Dem candidate, Sarah Teather, received more than 1,100 votes more than her nearest rival, overturning Labour’s 13,047 majority with a 29 per cent swing to her party.
Ms Teather received 8,158 votes against 7,040 for Robert Evans. The 29-year old becomes the youngest Member of Parliament.
Mr Evans said: “I think if we’re honest some of the results of Labour investment in health, in education, in the fight against crime haven’t yet filtered through to voters.
“But we’ll bounce back.”
David Mellor, former Tory cabinet minister, urged Mr Duncan Smith to quit. “Almost anyone with experience could do a better job.
“This by-election proves that the Tories have no future while Iain Duncan Smith remains leader.
“In Britain’s most diverse community, we have shown that we can speak for every section of society and the Liberal Democrat message is one they want to hear and support.”
Lib Dems leader Charles Kennedy boasted that his party was on course to “overtake the Conservatives as a political party in opposition.”
He said the Tories were “the big, big losers” in the Brent East election.
