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Lib Dem conference: Ashdown encourages ‘tactical voting’ to beat SNP

Former leader of the Liberal Democrats Paddy Ashdown,
Former leader of the Liberal Democrats Paddy Ashdown,

A former Liberal Democrat leader has advocated tactical voting from pro-UK supporters to keep Alex Salmond out of Westminster.

Party grandee Lord Paddy Ashdown said that Conservative and Labour voters who said No to independence should back the Lib Dem candidate Christine Jardine.

Constituency polling carried out by Lord Ashcroft suggested Mr Salmond is poised to win the Gordon seat from the Lib Dems following Sir Malcolm Bruce’s retirement from politics.

But Lord Ashdown said that private polling by his party showed that the Lib Dems were still competitive and Mr Salmond could be defeated.

He said: “We are clearly facing a challenge from the SNP, given the present situation in Scotland.

“But I have looked through all the private polls for all the seats we’re fighting here – we are either winning, or within reach of winning.”

He added: “I’ve seen the private polls in Gordon and I am very confident the private polls in Gordon are right, and they put us within reach of winning in Gordon, providing people realise, including the third and fourth parties in Gordon, that the right way to make sure Mr Salmond does not end up in parliament is to vote Liberal Democrat.

“If those voters understand that and vote according to it, then I don’t think you will get the outcome that polls predict.”