THIS week’s North Shropshire By-Election will be an ‘historic win’ for the Liberal Democrats, according to their candidate.

Helen Morgan, who is standing as the party’s candidate, said she believes Thursday’s vote will lead to victory against the incumbent Conservative Party because of what the Libs Dems are calling 'a catalogue of local and national issues'.

Ms Morgan says the messages she received on the doorstep is that she is the one in touch with voters’ frustrations over a number of issues.

She said: “Over this campaign, I have spoken to thousands of people who have told me that they are fed up to their back teeth with the state of our local health services.

"GP wait times are rising, hospitals are struggling and our ambulance services are on the brink of total collapse.

“Similarly, our farmers have been taken for granted by a Government that has failed to listen to the real issues they face.

"Farmers are one of the pillars of our community and we must put an end to the incompetence we are seeing from this government.

“We have this golden opportunity to send a message to the Government on Thursday that the people of North Shropshire will not be taken any longer.”

In recent weeks the Lib Dems have become the bookmaker’s favourites to win, with leader Sir Ed Davey MP visiting five times.

Sir Ed believes he is getting ready to welcome another Lib Dem MP to Westminster.

He said: “Helen is North Shropshire’s local champion, she would make a spectacular MP for the area and has run a positive campaign talking about the real issues like the suffering health services and poor treatment of farmers.

“The Conservative candidate from Birmingham (Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst) has no grasp of the issues here.

"Labour stand no chance of winning and their supporters are voting tactically. Even the bookmakers have them a huge way away from winning.

“This Thursday as the nation watches, residents of North Shropshire send a powerful message and tell the Prime Minister that the party is over this Christmas.”