Keir Starmer accused of plotting Lib Dem pact as list reveals low priority seats
KEIR Starmer is accused of plotting a pact with the Lib Dems as documents suggest he will leave swathes of the Blue Wall for them to fight.
A list of Labour’s low priority election seats has been revealed online marking 211 constituencies as “non-battleground” areas.
It features six areas held by Lib Dem MPs and 205 traditionally Conservative seats – some of which have been won by Lib Dems at recent by-elections.
Tory MP Jonathan Gullis said: “This just shows their Lib-Lab pact in action – however much they deny it. Labour can’t be trusted to be straight with the public.”
Labour will call off the dogs in some high profile Tory seats including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s new Godalming and Ash constituency and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk’s Cheltenham seat. Polling suggests both will go to Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats at the next election.
The document also hints that Labour strategists think they have a chance in the 439 seats that have been left off the low-priority list.
Windsor Lib Dems reacted with glee over the list, commenting on X: “It’s a two-way race in Windsor then…As we’ve been saying for some time. Labour not targeting Windsor in the [General Election]. Bring it on.”
Julian Tisi, their candidate, added: “Even Labour agrees, it’s the Lib Dems or the Conservatives in Windsor.”
Pollster Luke Tryl said: “What we’ve seen in by-elections is that one of the Lib Dems or Labour tends to put in less effort.
“That has sent a clear signal to voters about who is best placed to beat the Tories and suggests we could be heading for significant tactical voting in the General Election – even without a formal ‘pact’.
“If that happens it will only add to Rishi Sunak‘s party’s already significant woes.”
A Labour source insisted there was no Labour election pact with “any party”.
They added: “The Tories have been peddling this nonsense to distract from their own chaos for months and you only need to look at our recent by-election wins to know that this is far from the truth.
“Labour has a plan to get Britain’s future back and with the support of the British people we’re fighting to win a majority at the next election so there’s no need to be talking about coalitions or pacts.”
A Lib Dem spokesperson said: “Ed has been very clear that there will be no pacts and no deals. Like all parties we will put resources in where we think we can win.”