Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey has begun the ultimate week of a normal election marketing campaign outlined by stunts by bungee leaping, in a bid to encourage voters to “make the leap” and vote Lib Dem.
Sir Ed was filmed shouting “vote Liberal Democrat” whereas dangling within the air after his bounce in Eastbourne – one of many so-called “Blue Wall” seats he hopes to take from the Tories on the election.
The occasion chief has carried out stunts like paddleboard falls and rollercoaster rides to seize media consideration all through the marketing campaign to spotlight Lib Dem priorities like air pollution, psychological well being and social care reforms.
Chatting with reporters after his bungee bounce, Sir Ed stated: “I’ve by no means accomplished that earlier than.”
He added: “I am asking folks to do one thing many individuals have by no means accomplished earlier than, which is vote Liberal Democrat this coming Thursday.
“So, make the leap. Vote for well being and care, which is our prime precedence in contrast to everybody else, vote for a correct financial coverage, vote to finish the sewage scandal and motion on local weather change.”
The Lib Dems are hoping to reclaim the place of Britain’s third-largest political occasion on 4 July.
Some projections present Sir Ed’s occasion may overtake the SNP for the primary time since 2015 in Thursday’s ballot.
In line with a senior Lib Dem supply, the occasion is hoping to beat its 1997 document by successful 26 new seats to make 34 Lib Dem MPs within the subsequent parliament.
Sir Ed’s staff stay tight lipped on the precise variety of seats they hope to take.
The best variety of Lib Dem MPs was 62, achieved after the 2005 election beneath Charles Kennedy.
Social gathering strategists are attempting to lock down the votes of “conventional” Lib Dems whereas searching down “Conservative switchers” who as soon as believed voting Conservative ensured commonsense governance – however now not see it that means.
Whereas the Lib Dems are primarily focusing on the Conservatives, senior officers declare the vote for Labour is “softer” than it was for Tony Blair’s landslide in 1997.
One other massive supply of Lib Dem votes was Remainers. However the occasion strategists imagine they’re pondering much less about Britain’s relationship with Europe and extra concerning the state of public providers and sewage.
Which is why, in between the stunts, Sir Ed talks endlessly to reporters concerning the NHS, social care, and clear water.
Sir Ed served in a number of cupboard roles within the Tory-Lib Dem coalition after 2010, however has dominated out ever getting into authorities with the Conservatives once more if the election defies expectations and produces a hung parliament. He has not dominated out power-sharing with Labour.
The Lib Dems have put plans to sort out issues within the NHS and social care on the coronary heart of the occasion’s manifesto – titled For A Honest Deal – centring a lot of the marketing campaign round Sir Ed’s personal private experiences of caring for his mom and disabled son.
In its manifesto, Labour has pledged to chop NHS ready occasions, promising 40,000 extra appointments each week, in addition to 8,500 further psychological well being workers.
The Conservatives say they’d improve NHS spending above inflation yearly, in addition to recruiting 92,000 extra nurses and 28,000 extra medical doctors, in addition to selling pharmacies.
Sir Ed’s stunt got here on the day the Lib Dems pledged to spend £440m yearly on bereavement funds for widows and kids.
By 2028/29, the occasion stated it’ll double funding for Bereavement Help Funds to ease the monetary burden of dropping a accomplice.
Presently, bereaved households obtain as much as £3,500 and £350 month-to-month for 18 months.
The occasion says it could prolong the time bereaved households obtain assist, although full particulars are usually not but supplied.
Sir Ed who opened up about his private expertise of dropping each mother and father at a younger age, branded present provisions as “heartless and short-sighted”.
The occasion chief misplaced his father to most cancers when he was 4, and his mom to sickness as an adolescent, after caring for her all through college.
“Given how necessary it was to me and my household, I must combat for others like me,” he advised the BBC.
You could find a full listing of candidates for the Eastbourne constituency right here.
