The Liberal Democrats’ are spreading “blatant porkies” about its election chances, a reader has claimed.

It comes after the Lib Dems used a bar chart by Best For Britain in an election leaflet issued earlier this month in Watford, which showed the party was only two per cent behind the Conservatives in the town.

According to the chart, the Tories would have 34 per cent of the vote while the Lib Dems would get 32 per cent if people voted tactically.

The Lib Dems claimed in their leaflet that it showed it was the only party to “stop the Tories”.

But after the figures were updated recently, it showed if 30 per cent of Remainers voted tactically, Labour are the closest to the Tories with the Lib Dems dropping to third. Around 40,000 people nationwide were surveyed for the poll.

James Guest, who reads the Watford Observer, said the Lib Dems were using “dubious” bar charts to give off a “false impression” before the figures were updated.

He added: “As the party has been caught out doing this in several constituencies it would be thought that they would not use the same con trick again. But they tell the most blatant porkies and treat the electorate as fools.

“They also used the same dubious claim at the last election and came a distant third.

“Moreover, advice from most tactical voting websites for the Watford Constituency is to vote Labour if you want Remain.”

Mr Guest feels the party knows it is “far behind” and will “sink further if it keeps propagating the same deliberate falsehoods”.

He added: “It used to be there were placards in lots of houses saying vote LibDem. So very few now.”

However, the Lib Dems, when referring to the original poll, says the polling method used for the bar chart is “very credible” and is widely used by pollsters. It claims that tactical voting sites “recommend” voting for the Lib Dems in the town.

The party also says they have nearly 500 placards in the town – and claim this is more than what the other parties have.

Cllr Ian Stotesbury, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Watford, added: “The Liberal Democrats are on the up and can win in Watford. We got our best ever local election results in May, topped the European poll and won a by-election only last month, with Labour slumping into third place.

“Labour are clearly rattled in Watford and will be looking to hold onto seats that they already hold at this election. With the Greens standing aside and Labour all over the place on Brexit, it is clear that only the Lib Dems will work to Stop Brexit so we can get on with the issues that really matter for our community.

“I live in Watford and am passionate about our community. I'd love the chance to represent us in Parliament.”

Speaking about the updated poll, Chris Ostrowski, parliamentary candidate for Labour in Watford, said: “This bombshell is a body blow for the Lib Dems.

“No party has ever come from 21,000 votes behind to win.

“Clearly all tactical voting sites are in total agreement that it is me who can beat the Tories in Watford – no one else.”