Jo Swinson has admitted the Lib Dems have suffered a “squeeze” in the polls, and she shifted its election position from arguing she could be come prime minister to telling voters only her party could block Boris Johnson from getting a majority.
The Lib Dem leader said on Sunday morning the Brexit Party decision to stand down candidates in Tory-held seats had “clearly affected the shape of the campaign”.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Swinson said would be prepared to vote for legislation put forward by the prime minister that put his Brexit deal to a second referendum.
“You know, there is a real opportunity for Liberal Democrats to win seats from the Conservatives and stop Boris Johnson and his bad Brexit deal,” she said.
“But if there is a law in parliament that I can vote for that makes sure that the Brexit deal is put to the public, with the opportunity to Remain, I will vote for that. We have always said we will vote for that.”
Swinson repeated that Lib Dem MPs would not be “doing a deal” with the Tories or Labour after the election.
“I’m not putting Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn into Number 10,” she said.
She told Marr: “Who is going to stop Boris Johnson from getting a majority?
“If we look at things as they stand, it is not the Labour Party. Even in seats like Grimsby, Labour are not even managing to hold their own.
“The Liberal Democrats are genuinely challenging the Conservatives, including in seats that have been traditional, long-held Conservative seats, seats of former Cabinet ministers, places like Finchley and Golders Green, Kensington, Esher and Walton.
Swinson was speaking ahead of the the Conservative manifesto launch later this afternoon.