Former Conservative MP Antoinette Sandbach defects to Liberal Democrats weeks before election

MP was one of 21 to have the whip withdrawn by Boris Johnson over decision to block a no-deal Brexit

She will now fight to hold her Eddisbury seat for the Lib Dems (PA)

A former Conservative MP has joined the Liberal Democrats with just weeks to go before the general election.

Antoinette Sandbach was one of 21 MPs to have the whip withdrawn by Boris Johnson over their decision to block a no-deal Brexit.

After joining Jo Swinson‘s party, she will now fight to hold her Eddisbury seat for the Lib Dems as the party heads into the general election in six weeks’ time.

She said: “This general election will be the most important in my lifetime. People have a very clear choice, the Conservative party offers years of uncertainty whilst the Liberal Democrats will stop Brexit.

“I’m so proud to stand alongside other Liberal Democrat candidates across the country to fight for a brighter future with Jo Swinson, our candidate to be prime minister.

“I will stand on my strong local record, helping to secure local investment, fighting for fair funding for our schools and to secure additional funding in local health services. Our country deserves so much better than Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn. I can’t wait to get to work, win this election and then deliver for my constituents and our country.”

Ms Sandbach is the eighth addition to the Lib Dem parliamentary party in the last few months and her defection means the party will have at least 20 MPs by the time parliament is dissolved next week – up from the 12 returned in the 2017 election.

Ms Swinson said she was “delighted to welcome Antoinette to the Liberal Democrats”.

She added that her new MP was a “passionate campaigner, and will be a fantastic candidate at the general election and a great addition to our party. Her defection clearly shows that the Liberal Democrats are the strongest party of Remain and attracting support from right across the political spectrum.

“Antoinette is one of the millions of people who are tired of the two old parties, led by people who will take our country backwards, not forwards. It is only the Liberal Democrats that will stop Brexit and build the brighter future that our country deserves.”