LABOUR’S second-in-command has denied her party is fighting the byelection with the sole intention of splitting the vote.
Deputy leader Harriet Harman said their candidate, John O’Farrell, was serious about winning an historic victory for Labour by returning their first MP in generations in the constituency.
She said: “We are not doing any political games here, we are just putting forward a very strong candidate with a strong platform to speak up for Eastleigh in some very difficult times.
“We are down here because people in Eastleigh are facing problems, worries about whether their kids are going to get their first job, whether or not they will be able to get a home of their own, whether they are having to cut back on things or whether their standard of living can be improved.
“We are not here to second guess the voters or predict the outcomes of byelections, we are here to see how people have had their confidence broken by the Tories and the Lib Dems.
“We are encouraging people to vote Labour and we have every confidence in an excellent candidate.
“Unfortunately too many or our predictions about the effect of the Lib Dems/Tory Government’s economic policies have come true and the difficulties are only getting worse and the Government will not change course.”
