Here comes Swinson, on tour just like a president

JO SWINSON is to launch a presidential-style election tour across the country in a bid to convince voters she can be prime minister.

Earlier this week the Scot claimed that the Liberal Democrats were on the verge of winning hundreds of seats in next month’s election.

The party’s new confidence comes as it welcomed another defector from the Tories.

Antoinette Sandbach announced on Thursday night that she would stand as the Lib Dem candidate in her Eddisbury constituency.

The party now has 20 MPs – up from the 12 elected in 2017.

The decision to present Miss Swinson – the MP for East Dunbartonshire – as a potential leader of the country has been dubbed a ‘bicep-kissing strategy’ because it shows off and potentially exaggerates the party’s strengths.

It was reported yesterday that the Lib Dems are also planning to hire more office space in London to allow staff to oversee the campaign around the country. New Lib Dem chief executive Mike Dixon has sent all employees an email, which lays out its approach to the six-week general election campaign.

It reveals it will be heavily centralised, with candidates requiring sign-off from party bosses on all their leaflets and emails.

The centrepiece of the campaign will be a ‘high-profile tour’ by Miss Swinson, pushing the idea that she could end up running the country after December 12.

Yesterday, Miss Swinson said her party can win seats across the UK, adding: ‘The Liberal Democrats are fighting this election to stop Brexit and build a brighter future.

‘We have seen thousands of people join our party in the last few weeks, and have added eight new MPs in the last few months. I have set no limit on my ambition for my party and am excited to take our campaign right across the country.’