UPDATE: since this article was published we are receiving reports of letters like this all over the UK – including other constituencies where the Liberal Democrats are far behind in third place. please comment below or share a photo on our Facebook or Twitter page if you have received one of these letters.
At the last election in 2017 there were barely 300 votes between Tory DEFRA minister and Brexit champion Theresa Villiers and Labour’s Emma Whysall in the constituency of Chipping Barnet.
Not according to this misleading Liberal Democrat leaflet posted to the constituency. This latest twist in the scandal of misleading Liberal Democrat literature posted to British voters seems only designed to keep the seat Conservative.
The Liberal Democrats have been panned for sending leaflets to voters with fake bar charts showing the party the likeliest to defeat Conservative contenders in two horse races which are actually two horse races between the Labour Party and the Tories. A local newspaper is now threatening to sue the LibDems for passing off campaign literature as voters’ local paper.
But take a look at this ridiculous letter sent in the post to voters:
It purports to be from Mike Smithson, a “polling and elections expert” with no indication that it is Liberal Democrat propaganda apart from tiny print at the bottom which says “published and promited by M.Dixon on behalf of the Liberal Democrats.”
There is also no mention that “polling and elections expert” Mike Smithson is a former Liberal Democrat candidate.
Much more serious than the concealing of Mr Smithson’s Lib Dem connections, is the lie in the letter disguised as genuine polling advice that “the election in Chipping Barnet is between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.”
The seat is a tight two horse race – but one between Conservative MP Theresa Villiers and Labour’s Emma Whyshall. The Liberal Democrats don’t even get a look in.
In the last election the Tory party held the seat by just 353 votes.
The Conservatives won by 25,679 votes, Labour came a very close second with 25,326, with the Lib Dems far behind with 3,012.
When I put this to the Liberal Democrats, the reply from a spokesman was: “The letter reflected data that was correct at the time of printing. As is stated repeatedly in the letter, in these constituencies, Liberal Democrat success depends on Conservative voters lending us their vote.”
This is another blatant lie, as at no point could the letter have reflected correct data. The seat has stayed a two horse race by a long shot since 2017. The latest YouGov MRP polling has Labour and the Conservatives neck and neck at 41% in this constituency.
This misleading missive has no chance of getting a Liberal Democrat elected in the constituency, all it can possibly achieve is misleading enough voters to make sure Labour do not get the 300 or so votes they would need to unseat Theresa Villiers.
It is an expensive and underhand way of attempting to ensure Boris Johnson has a comfortable majority.
The Liberal Democrats refused to answer questions about how many other constituencies similar letters may have been sent to and why there is no mention of the “polling and elections expert” being a Liberal Democrat.
The letter also mentions Best For Britain and their tactical voting website getvoting.org . Yet the tactical voting advice on getvoting.org and in fact on every tactical voting advice site we checked suggests local voters vote Labour to unseat the Conservative MP.
When contacted, Best For Britain were shocked and appalled to find out that they had been named in the LIbDem’s misleading leaflet.
Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator, said: “The Lib Dems have no credibility and should apologise for trying to mislead voters.
“The last time Jo Swinson and her party were as close to the Tories as these charts claim, they were in government voting for the bedroom tax, privatising the NHS, tripling tuition fees and cutting taxes for the super-rich and big business.”
READ MORE: Seven senior Tories, including the PM, at risk of losing seat in tactical voting switch
The very same letter has been sent to a friend of mine in York Outer.
Getting these in South Camb, too. Former Lib Dem councillor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Smithson_(British_journalist)
Tories are also sending out literature posing as local newspapers with lies. They are using the constituency name the focus and date it November 2019. I had one in the post myself headed Bedford Focus and thought at first it was a newspaper full of tory lies and finally found the minute print at the bottom of the front page.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/28/tories-caught-new-fake-news-scam-leaflets-dressed-local-papers-11232710/
We got one of these leaflets for Putney, which is Tory/Labour marginal. Shouldn’t there be some sort of fine for lying like this?
Same letters in Carshalton & Wallington!
We are in a Conservative area and have been inundated with Lib Dem propaganda, this pathetic attempt letter being the latest. Looked for the small print and there it was….. “Published and promoted by M Dixon on behalf of the Lib Dems..” Fake news. Just makes me angry.
Truro and Falmouth we have had them, electoral calculus that they have been using on their leaflets now says Cons 47.4%, Lab 36%, Libdems 13.1%. An absolute disgrace!
The same letter has been sent to young voters in the Lewes Constituency which is held by the Conservatives, implying that there are only two candidates standing, whereas it is also being contested by the Green Party, an Independent and the Labour Party.
MP’s from all parties have voted against Brexit,
Last sentence cynical to say the least.
I was shocked to see this had been sent out with only the small print at the bottom of the letter givig the true source of the material.
A remarkably similar letter sent to addressees in the Stocksbridge and Penistone Constituency. Particularly disturbing is that it seems to have been targeted at the residents of an old peoples’ estate where recipients might struggle to see through it and certainly struggle to see the small print at the bottom. Have they declared the expenditure for the constituency?
I too have received the above-mentioned publication. At first assumed it to be genuinely impartial, then read it and realised otherwise. Right at the bottom in tiny print it says …. on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. How sneaky is that? And although Mike Smithson is easy enough to find on Google, contacting him to complain is easier said than done. Which is what brought me here.
This letter has also been sent to voters in Taunton Deane. In common with those above I am appalled at its deceitful nature purporting to be from an independent ‘expert’ analyst who in fact was a Lib Dem politician. I never thought the Lib Dem’s would stoop so low.
Mole Valley had a Tory majority of 24,000+ (they received 61% of the vote so even if everyone voted tactically the Cons would still win). We also received Mike’s ‘expert’ opinion. How can we complain? I sent it to Channel 4 and will have a polite but assertive word with the next LD canvasser who comes round. I doubt it will be Mike himself but live in hope. It is basically dishonest and misleading. No wonder people are cynical.
Also received this misleading letter in Truro and Cornwall where the Lib Dems are in 3rd. place way behind Labour. Dishonest and in line with the new Line Dem leader. I’ve voted LD much of my life, but never again until Swinson is replaced
For 50 years I have voted Lib/LibDem, otherwise only ever for Ind. in locals when no more Lib Dems. GetVoting.org now clearly recommend Labour, so that is how I intend to vote.
If this nonsense letter is not rescinded on a national basis, Boris Depiffle Johnson will win and we leave , probably with No Deal, and I will in future be voting SNP and to devolve.
Corbyn needs to come to terms with the fact he will not have an absolute majority and will need help from other parties and Swinson needs to come to terms with the fact that the only way we will Remain is via a 2nd referendum
This letter us 100% accurate for Kensington so I was pleased to receive it.
Sarah. Its clear in Kensington its between Labour and the Tories. The Lib Dems are way behind even with an ex Tory MP as LD candidate. Please don’t take voters for idiots, it really does give politics an awful reputation. Rules should be introduced to stop this sort of fake news.
We have the exact same letter in North Cornwall. Admittedly here it is a Tory/Lib Dem race based on previous results, but other than our names and the constituency, it’s an identical letter.
Same Letter in Wimbledon. A shocker. Liberals were far far back in 3rd place in the last election. Labour have a good candidate here, and a chance to topple the wobbly Jelly that is Stephen Hammond if people vote tactically based on correct information , but not if the Libdems lie and act hubristically
Also had this letter. Part of LibDem dirty campaign in this area (Twickenham). I am complaining to the Electoral Commission and suggest everyone else does too.
Yep. Received the same letter. I knew it was fake news when I read the header “Mike Smithson Polling and Elections Expert”. If he’d been a proper psephologist it would have said that and given his actual status. Here in Cheltenham it really is a close call between the Lib Dems and the Tories and one where the Green Party have agreed not to stand. The Lib Dems must be spending a fortune on this constituency – it seems every day something comes in the post or a leaflet is pushed through the door from them. I don’t like tactical voting and think we should vote for what we believe in, but as Caroline Lucas has expressed well, in a flawed democratic system based on first-past-the-post sometimes we have no choice but to go for the lesser of two evils. So I’ll probably be voting Lib Dem even though as I make my cross the fingers of the other hand will be tightly crossed behind me.
I’ve just received one of these in Portsmouth South with their “Polling Expert” claiming “The Election is between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats”
This is utter nonsense. The last time the Lib Dems held Portsmouth South was in 2015 when they lost it to the Conservatives with a 5,241 majority, but then the Conservatives lost it to Labour who got 18,290 votes with a 1,554 majority and the Lib Dems only getting 7,699 votes.
To claim this constituency is “between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats” is to blatantly misrepresent how the people here actually voted!
I live in Watford. I have just received this letter. It does not mention the results of the last election in Watford, in which the Libs were over 9000 votes behind Labour. The tactical voting website I checked has actually changed its recommendation for Watford from Lib Dem to Labour. Regardless, I try to vote for something or somebody not against. Whatever happened to policies?
We received the same letter today in Chipping Barnet. I wonder whether the LibDems and Torries are working together. It only takes a handful of labour voters to switch to the LibDems and Theresa Villiers retains her seat. If the LibDems really wanted to stop Brexit, they would stand down in Chipping Barnet, never mind sending out fake letters. Absolutely disgraceful.
Just received one of these letters in Chelmsford , Essex and I am absolutely fuming , it was addressed to my eldest daughter and myself . Disgraceful behaviour and very underhand.
Just received one of these letters in Argyll &Bute. Considering that it is a two horse race between the conservatives and the SNP ( the lib dems were well behind in 2017), this letter would all but ensure a Tory victory if only a small number were deceived by it.
I have complained to the Electoral Commission as , quite simply, I believe this to be fraudulent. Only at the very bottom in a very small font, and in a lighter shade of grey does it state it was printed and published for the lib dems.
Yep – received in Hitchin, Hertfordshire today. Realised it was fake news when I saw that an important word had been missed off – if this was ‘real’, surely they’d have proof read it properly.
States: “You know from previous elections that a vote for anyone other the Liberal Democrats can end up with a Conservative MP”. Missing the word ‘than’… “anyone other ‘than’ the Liberal Democrats…
Very poor. Whoever put this together should be fined on that basis alone!
I received one of these today in Edinburgh South. In the 2017 election the Liberal Democratics came 4th with 2.9% of the vote. Funniest thing I’ve seen all day!
Received the Scottish version in RSL today. No reference as to who this is & not even a dodgy poll reference. I’m an ex councillor & GE candidate here so I’m well versed in delving into the data of these things. If you don’t feel able to reveal your source don’t publish (esp if the writer is an ex Lib Dem candidate & councillor & you are hiding that – people will investigate!). This is frankly beyond the pale. They want to win at any cost but this makes Boris’s bus seem almost sensible!
WE DON’T NEED A LETTER IN BRECON & RADNOR! We are well aware that the Tories will take this seat from the Lib Dems UNLESS Labour supporters, and ‘remain’ Conservatives vote for Jane Dodds.
Fortunately even members of Momentum are advising Labour supporters to ‘lend their votes’. (And a number of Labour Supporters are sporting both Labour and Lib Dem stake-boards to publicise this view here in the Constituency).
If you are a Labour supporter in this constituency, and you want to keep Johnson out or under control, then VOTING TACTICALLY IS ESSENTIAL.
I for one applaud anyone who is generous enough and wise enough to vote for the party locally that’s best placed to stop a Tory majority. And I am not prepared to believe that the Electorate are illiterate – WE CAN READ THE SMALL PRINT!
Same propaganda crap from this shitty little party here in st albans, WHO THE F…. IS MIKE SMITHSON
Just received in Portsmouth South. What a load of rubbish, Labour are way ahead of them here. Poor tactics – they should not be allowed to do this
Received Watford Hertfordshire.
getvoting.org suggested voting Labour to keep Cons out – completely contradicting the letter.
Very (very!) small print at the foot states that it’s published and promoted on behalf of Lib Dems
I live on the fringe of a Housing Association estate which I guess in years gone by probably voted Labour, so I see this as a despicable attempt to coerce Labour voters to vote Lib Dem, in a constituancy last won by Lib Dem by 15,000 votes. now I am to complain to the local Electorial Registration Office on its legitimancy and have the Lib Dems declared it as their issue and if it listed within their Election costs & expenses?
We got this letter in Tunbridge Wells, and visitors from Wimbledon said
they had also received it. Went to Smithson’s Wikipedia page and lo and behold
just 5 minutes earlier someone had edited in the info. about misleading
anti-SNP letter, so added the T.Wells and Wimbledon to it. Perhaps you
could all do the same !
received in altrincham and sale west – a 2-way con/lab race.
Received in Altrincham and Sale West. 2017 election results in this constituency were Conservative 51%, Labour 38.8%, LD 7%. If this letter has in any way been approved or endorsed by the Lib Dems I am appalled – how low can politics go?
Received in Southport, as in 2017, again posing a a mere purveyor of information.
2019 Best for Britain recommending Labour vote
Also received in Wokingham Berks where John Redwood is sitting con MP.
Also received this in Portsmouth S. Have had several letters, personally addressed, through post from Lib Dems. Have emailed LDHQ to ask to be removed from their mailing list.
I got the same letter. I didn’t think anything of it at the time (apart from the tiny reference to ‘on behalf of the LiberalDemocrats) as it is correct in my constituency (Thornbury and Yate).
I complained to electoral commission about this. In their reply (which was very quick to be fair) they said…“PARLIAMENT HAS NOT LEGISLATED TO REQUIRE THAT THE CONTENT OF ELECTION MATERIAL MUST BE TRUTHFUL OR FACTUALLY SUBSTANTIATED” So there we are. They are allowed to lie their heads off.
Its ridiculous that this is the case. I’d also like to see a legal requirement that all election material produced by or on behalf of partys or candidates must clearly and obviously display that it from/ for that candidate / party. This would help counter these misleading publications that seek to persuade people whilst hiding their true source or identity, such as the imitation newspapers produced by the Liberal Democrats. It should apply to all media: TV, radio, paper, online, everything – just like party political ads on the TV which state clearly both before and after “This is a party political broadcast on behalf of …”
We got the same letter in Wells in Somerset
Same nonsense from this bookie in North East Somerset where we hopento oust Rees-Mogg
Getting them in Wantage too.
Got one of these today in Edinburgh. Slightly different slant to it, trying to get people to vote LD rather than SNP. It also claims that the Liberal Democrats are: “The only remain party that is big enough, and strong enough, to stop Boris Johnson and stop Brexit”. Now I don’t know how they are measuring size and strength but if we go by MPs in the last parliament then the SNP are bigger and stronger: SNP 36 MPs; LD 21 (many of whom were not elected as Liberal Democrats), if we go by membership then the SNP are bigger and stronger: SNP 125,000, LD 115,000 (from https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN05125 ). So
sorry 35 SNP MPs – that was a typo
Looking at current predictions for the upcoming GE most have the SNP with around 3 times as many seats as the LD
I received one today in Abingdon and South Oxford constituency. I was looking to contact this Mike Smithson when I came across this post. He claims not to be telling you how to vote, but it’s all about how you can help the Lib Dems win. Googling his name told me he is a former Lib Dem politician. We are receiving literature from the Lib Dems every day. Jo Swinson says we deserve better; we certainly deserve better than her.
Getting this in Wantage still. Labour is clear second place. We have been bombarded by fake news that the libdems are the challenger,over 15 leaflets so far Really depressing as with the incumbent stood down and a pro Brexit replacement Labour would be a real possibility. They also have the stood down green candidate holding their hands at all the hustings telling people to vote Libdem. Disgraceful behaviour from both greens and libdems.
Mike Smithson letter to me and my son in Southport (Merseyside) as well. Very disturbing – if I thought I should possibly vote Lib Dem (here it really is a difficult bet which way will unseat Conservatives) – this has just convinced me NOT to!
I also received it in Watford where Labour currently stand a much better chance of beating the Tories. “Polling and elections expert” my ripe, juicy backside!
Who is Mike Smithson and what are his credentials ? He has sent misleading information to Bristol North West voters and has succeeded in alienating the Lib. Dem. party from undecided voters by earning his living by underestimating the intelligence of his audience.