The Liberal Democrats have claimed to be the “main challengers” to the Conservatives in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election set to take place on 23 June.

The previous MP Neil Parish, who stood down from his seat earlier this month, after admitting to watching pornography on his mobile in the House of Commons says he could stand as an independent candidate in the by-election.

Parish recently told the Telegraph newspaper’s Chopper’s Politics podcast that he had been pledged the adequate financial backing to stand for election.

Found in the south east corner of Devon, the Conservatives won the seat at the last election with a majority of over 24,000. However on the back of their 2021 by-election successes in previously ultra safe North Shropshire and Chesham and Amersham, the Liberal Democrats will fancy their chances in the impending contest.

In the late 1990s, the Lib Dems had polled quite well in this part of Devon, coming within 1,600 votes of winning the seat in 1997.

Tiverton and Honiton includes the towns of Tiverton, Axminster, Seaton, Honiton, and Cullomtpon.

The farmland in this seat is criss- crossed with rivers and includes part of the Blackdown Hills. It is an economically active area where unemployment is half that of the national average.

Parish’s suggestion he could run threatens to split the vote of those who voted Conservative in 2019, and could potentially lead to a Liberal Democrat win.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey MP said: “People in rural communities like Devon have had enough of being neglected by this Conservative government.

“The Conservatives’ failure to tackle the cost of living crisis has left millions struggling to pay their bills, while people wait hours for an ambulance and weeks for a GP or dentist appointment.

“The Liberal Democrats are the main challengers to the Conservatives in Tiverton and Honiton. On the 23rd June voters can send Boris Johnson’s government a message they cannot ignore – and elect a strong local champion who will stand up for them.”