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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dems 'can still win in Crewe' | Lib Dems 'can still win in Crewe' |
| (2 days later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have said they can win the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, insisting the race is "much tighter" than polls suggest. | The Liberal Democrats have said they can win the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, insisting the race is "much tighter" than polls suggest. |
| A spokesman for Lib Dem candidate Elizabeth Shenton predicted a number of "hardcore" Labour voters would defect to the party on Thursday. | A spokesman for Lib Dem candidate Elizabeth Shenton predicted a number of "hardcore" Labour voters would defect to the party on Thursday. |
| Leader Nick Clegg is visiting the constituency on Wednesday to campaign. | Leader Nick Clegg is visiting the constituency on Wednesday to campaign. |
| Recent opinion polls have put the Conservatives in the lead, with Labour in second place and the Lib Dems third. | Recent opinion polls have put the Conservatives in the lead, with Labour in second place and the Lib Dems third. |
| 'Positive campaign' | 'Positive campaign' |
| But Ms Shenton's spokesman said the party's own "on-the-ground" data suggested it was "within a few percentage points" of winning. | But Ms Shenton's spokesman said the party's own "on-the-ground" data suggested it was "within a few percentage points" of winning. |
| He added: "The Labour Party is no longer in the race... we have used traditional campaigning techniques - going out and meeting people. | He added: "The Labour Party is no longer in the race... we have used traditional campaigning techniques - going out and meeting people. |
| "Elizabeth is very personable and we are trying to run a positive campaign." | "Elizabeth is very personable and we are trying to run a positive campaign." |
| Labour's portrayal of Conservative candidate Edward Timpson as a "Tory toff" has been criticised as a "class-war" tactic to hold the seat, vacant since the death of long-serving MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month. | Labour's portrayal of Conservative candidate Edward Timpson as a "Tory toff" has been criticised as a "class-war" tactic to hold the seat, vacant since the death of long-serving MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month. |
| But her daughter, the Labour candidate Tamsin Dunwoody, has defended the slogan as "good visual imagery". | But her daughter, the Labour candidate Tamsin Dunwoody, has defended the slogan as "good visual imagery". |
| The latest poll, for the Independent newspaper, puts the Tories on 48%, Labour on 35% and the Lib Dems on 12%. | The latest poll, for the Independent newspaper, puts the Tories on 48%, Labour on 35% and the Lib Dems on 12%. |
| The survey company ComRes interviewed 1,001 people in the constituency from 15 to 18 May. | The survey company ComRes interviewed 1,001 people in the constituency from 15 to 18 May. |
| Ms Shenton's spokesman said: "What I think will happen is that a considerable hardcore Labour vote that hasn't already gone across to us will do, when they realise that to do otherwise could give Crewe and Nantwich a Tory MP for the first time in the seat's history." | Ms Shenton's spokesman said: "What I think will happen is that a considerable hardcore Labour vote that hasn't already gone across to us will do, when they realise that to do otherwise could give Crewe and Nantwich a Tory MP for the first time in the seat's history." |
| There are 10 candidates for the by-election, with polling stations open from 0700 BST until 2200 BST on Thursday. The result is expected by about 0230 BST on Friday. | There are 10 candidates for the by-election, with polling stations open from 0700 BST until 2200 BST on Thursday. The result is expected by about 0230 BST on Friday. |