Plot by top Lib Dems to help Corbyn into number 10 at head of ‘coalition of chaos’ exposed as Tory lead hits record high

A PLOT by two senior Lib Dems to help Labour candidates beat Tories in the election has been exposed.

Vince Cable and Sarah Olney were taped telling supporters to vote tactically and only select “paper candidates”.

The front bench pair were accused of plotting “a coalition of chaos”.

They were blasted for misleading voters and scheming to get Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street. It came as Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas said there was huge “enthusiasm and energy” for deals to defeat the Tories.

She urged Mr Corbyn to hold talks on building alliances with the Greens and Lib Dems.

In the recording, former Business Secretary Mr Cable tells party members to “act in a constructive way” in the election, revealing he has “almost identical” views to that of a London Labour candidate.

Talking about Rupa Haq, who is standing in Ealing, he says: “I would find it difficult to vote against somebody like that, and I would hope that our people around the country are discriminating and think and act in a constructive way.”

Ms Olney, who snatched the Richmond Park constituency from Tory Zac Goldsmith in a by-election last November, added: “Being tactical isn’t just about standing down or voting for the right candidate, it also can be about paper candidates but not campaigning.

“We know that we want Rupa to win in Ealing.”

Mr Goldsmith, said: “Having said publicly they wouldn’t do a deal with Jeremy Corbyn, it’s now clear they are actually plotting to help him succeed.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green said: “The threat of Jeremy Corbyn making it to Downing Street propped up by a coalition of chaos is very real.

“These recordings show the Lib Dems are scheming to make it happen.

“As Cable makes clear, the result would be higher taxes for families and businesses, and attempts to frustrate Brexit at every turn. We would all pay the price.”

Mr Cable later said the Lib Dems had a “clear policy” not to go into government with the Labour leader.

Lib Dem boss Tim Farron backed him insisting a vote for his party is the way to express opposition to the Conservatives.

But Mr Cable backed local deals in so-called progressive alliances on an “ad hoc basis”.

Ms Lucas claimed voters were “begging parties of the left” to join forces across the country.

Labour’s health spokesman Jon Ashworth insisted no deal would take place.

But the anti-Brexit Lib Dems have struck several deals where they or Green candidates have stood aside to help each other.