Conservatives Admit They Won't Win Ealing Southall

12.59.40am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 13th Jul 2007

A Conservative Shadow Cabinet member has today admitted that the Conservatives 'do not think they will win' the Ealing Southall by-election.

Local Liberal Democrat Nigel Bakhai who finished second at the last General Election is leading a strong campaign for the local area.

Liberal Democrat Chief Executive Lord Rennard said:

"It is very honest for the Conservatives to admit that they won't win. Conservative supporters will take heed of this fact. Many will switch to the Liberal Democrats.

"We are gaining support and will challenge Labour very strongly this Thursday."

Note:

The Times reports:

"Two senior Conservatives have admitted to The Times that they do not think they can win, but they believe a strong performance would demonstrate that the Tories were gaining support among ethnic minority communities. A member of the Shadow Cabinet said: 'We don't think we will win but we want to come a good second'."

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Read the full story in The Times.