Conservative candidate urges followers to vote Lib Dem in Meon Valley

8.59.40am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 24th Apr 2010

The Conservative candidate aiming to become Meon Valley's first MP can expect to feel the wrath of his party judges - after comparing the General Election campaign to reality TV show the X-Factor and urging people to vote for the Liberal Democrats.

In an amazing outburst on social networking website Twitter, George Hollingbery said: "This polling is absolutely riveting. It all seems like a huge X factor phone in. Go on, let's vote LD and see what happens!"

Liz Leffman, the Lib Dem standing against Mr Hollingbery in Meon Valley, says she is "delighted with the endorsement" from her closest rival.

The tweet, posted on Twitter page George4MVMP on April 17 at 8:07pm but since removed, comes less than a year after Tory leader David Cameron's infamous interview with Absolute Radio last July, in which he revealed he didn't use the website because "too many twits might make a ****".

Ms Leffman said: "My election campaign in Meon Valley is moving on well and, in line with the party's rising popularity across the UK, it seems even our close rivals have decided only the Liberal Democrats offer a truly fresh opportunity to the electorate.

"I am delighted with the endorsement George has given the Liberal Democrats so close to polling day."