Voters in the Hampshire town of Eastleigh were set to go the polls on Thursday to elect a new member of parliament in a contest that threatens serious repercussions for the major parties.
The election, called when Liberal Democrat incumbent Chris Huhne resigned after admitting to perverting the course of justice, pits the coalition partners against each other, but eurosceptic party UKIP is hoping to capitalise on voter disillusionment.
Embattled Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg called it a “two-horse race” between his party and the Conservatives while UKIP leader Nigel Farage predicted a “big” swing to his party.
The Lib Dems have been damaged by the ongoing sex scandal surrounding former chief executive Chris Rennard, and the vote looks set to cause further ructions within the coalition, whatever the result.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, David Cameron urged Tory MPs to back candidate Maria Hutchings, who vowed to help “get the country back on its feet” if she won.
Given the Lib Dem’s problems, a loss for the Tories would heap pressure on the prime minister.
More than 79,000 people are eligible to vote for one of the 14 candidates, and residents have been subjected to incessant campaigning since the election was called after Huhne’s resignation on February 5.
Clegg visited the town on Wednesday to pledge his support for candidate Mike Thornton, saying he was on the “cusp of a great, great victory”.
Addressing supporters at Lib Dems headquarters, Clegg called the race the “most exciting and closely contested by-elections” that he could remember.
Farage backed his candidate, Diane James, to “come up on the rails” and cause a major shock.
“If you gave me evens on us gaining more than 20 percent in this by-election I would have a very big bet,” he said. “This is the campaign that has got momentum.”
Labour’s John O’Farrell is fighting not to finish in fourth place, and said he hoped voters would register their dissatisfaction at living standards by voting for his party.
Polls open at 7.00 am and will close at 10.00 pm.
Polls set to open in crucial by-election
