BRIDGWATER Labour activists are reportedly being 'directed 83-miles away' from the town, according to data analysed by the Financial Times.

Bridgwater Labour candidate Leigh Redman has denied claims that local activists are being sent to Plymouth, in order to maximise Conservative losses.

Mr Redman will stand for election against Pelé Barnes (Independent), William Fagg (Reform), Ashley Fox (Conservative), Charles Graham (Green Party), Claire Sully (Lib Dem) and Gregory Tanner (Workers Party) on Thursday, July 4.

The Financial Times claims that Labour activists across the country are being directed away from Conservative-held seats targeted by the Liberal Democrats.

"In the Lib Dems’ traditional west country heartland, Labour activists in Bridgwater, north Somerset, are being sent to Plymouth, an 83-mile journey that means passing at least four other constituencies," the Financial Times reports.

The newspaper reports that data it has analysed from the Labour campaign website allegedly suggests Sir Keir Starmer has implemented the strategy in around "80 Tory-held seats", which the Lib Dems hope to take over on Thursday, July 4.

Findings from the Financial Times show that Labour activists from Bridgwater, Taunton and Wellington, West Dorset, Honiton and Sidmouth, among several others, are all being sent to Plymouth Moor View.

Although Bridgwater Labour denied the claims, the Mercury is awaiting a full response.

Liberal Democrat candidate Claire Sully said that her party remains committed to 'fighting hard to topple the Tories'.

“Labour’s own campaign data suggests that the tactical vote to defeat the Conservatives in Bridgwater is the Liberal Democrats,” she said.

“My team and I are fighting hard to topple the Tories here and will provide strong opposition on Thursday, July 4.

"The Liberal Democrats have swept to victories in by-elections across Somerset and won the Somerset Council elections in 2022.

"We can win here in Bridgwater too.

“In some polls, the Liberal Democrats are just a four-seat swing away from becoming the official opposition after this election, relegating the Tories into third."

In September 2023, it was revealed that the new Bridgwater constituency was listed as a 'non-priority' seat for the Labour Party, despite Sir Kier Starmer claiming his party had “great aspirations for Somerset”.

In October, Councillor Brian Smedley, leader of Bridgwater Town Council, said that despite the leaked list of non-priority seats, Bridgwater remained a priority for the Labour Party.

"Bridgwater is a Labour town and our priority is to make it a Labour constituency at the next election," Cllr Smedley said.