Lib Dems double down on Gail’s strategy

To Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats. The fun-loving party made headlines during the general election campaign after its party leader was pictured on paddleboards, waterslides and even a bungee jump during the lead-up to the July poll. But while the party’s strategy appeared all fun and games from afar, the Lib Dems were working far more tactically behind the scenes. Embarking on a mission to mercilessly target Tory areas, the Liberal Democrats used a rather, er, original rule of thumb to identify voters looking to jump ship: ‘Does their constituency have a Gail’s?’

Going after consistencies that housed the luxury bakery chain appeared to work in Davey’s favour – with the party emerging from the election with a whopping 72 MPs, up from 11. But it would appear that Davey has not altogether ditched this policy post-election. In fact, as revealed in parliamentary questions, the Liberal Democrats seem to have doubled down on their pastry politics.