Lib Dems aim to use Lee Anderson’s views as weapon to win ‘safe’ Tory seats

The Tory deputy chair, who has also criticised nurses who use food banks and migrants, could prove toxic for voters in south-east seats

The Liberal Democrats are to launch a digital advertising blitz in “blue wall” seats held by leading cabinet ministers to highlight the new Conservative party deputy chair Lee Anderson’s enthusiastic backing for capital punishment.

The party believes that recent remarks by Anderson, who was promoted to the post last week by Rishi Sunak, will prove “toxic” among Conservative voters in dozens of south-eastern constituencies, including those held by the chancellor of the exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, and deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab.