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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Rachael Burford

Ed Davey asks voters to 'take a leap of faith' and back Lib Dems as he bungee jumps

Sir Ed Davey had pleaded with voters to “take a leap of faith” and back the Liberal Democrats as he completed a bungee jump on live television.

The Lib Dem leader plunged from the 160ft-high crane platform near Eastbourne on Monday morning as he called for voters to back his party for the first time at the general election later this week.

He screamed “vote Liberal Democrat” as he made the dive.

After completing the jump, he said: “To get the change our country needs this week and beat the Conservatives in scores of seats, I am asking people to take a leap of faith and vote for the Liberal Democrats.

“A lot of people are on the cusp of doing something they’ve never done before on Thursday and voting for the Liberal Democrats, so I decided to do something I’ve never done before too.

“Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to fix the NHS and care, end the sewage scandal and tackle the cost of living crisis.”

Since the general election was called on May 22, Sir Ed has taken part in a number of zany and unusual campaign stunts to draw attention his party.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey falls into the water while paddleboarding on Windermere (PA Wire)

So far he also fallen off a paddleboard to raise awareness of sewage in our waterways, careered down a waterslide, ridden a rollercoaster and tackled an assault course.

The 58-year-old leader has also built sandcastles, made jam, had a morning TV makeover and competed in wheelbarrow races.

The party are hoping to sweep up a number of Tory-held seats in London and the south east on July 4.

Key targets include Wimbledon, Sutton and Cheam, Carshalton and Wallington and Esher and Walton.

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