The Liberal Democrats have hit back at Peter Kyle over comments he made about an upcoming by-election.

The Hove MP, who is leading Labour’s campaign to win the seat of Mid Bedfordshire, accused the Lib Dems of negative campaigning directed at Labour candidate Alistair Strathern.

In particular, he accused the party of a campaign reminiscent of that used against LGBTQ+ campaigner Peter Tatchell in the 1980s, which saw the then Liberal Party accused of homophobic attacks to win a by-election in London.

Speaking to Emily Maitlis on The News Agents, Mr Kyle said: “What I am seeing from the Liberal Democrats is deeply personal, it is aimed at our candidate, not at the policies of the person or the party.

“I sense a style of politics by the Liberal Democrats in Mid Bedfordshire which is reminiscent of the campaign they ran against Peter Tatchell in the 1980s.

“I have no doubt that they are so desperate to make an impact in Mid Bedfordshire that if our candidate was gay, they would be doing a family values campaign. The moral high ground does not count for the Liberal Democrats in the way they are acting in that constituency.”

Mr Kyle claimed the Lib Dems had shared statements claiming the Labour candidate had “character issues to address” but did not elaborate further as to what those issues might be.

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He also slammed the notion of forming a “progressive alliance” with other parties to ensure the Conservatives lose in certain areas.

Mr Kyle said: “Elections are about voters and residents - they’re not about us as political parties. If there is a community of people and they are saying they want to engage with us, what would it mean for us to say we think you should go to another political party?

“That’s politicians telling voters how to vote. It is a perversion of how I see politics in an open democracy.”

Ben Thomas, who stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate for Brighton Kemptown at the last general election, described Mr Kyle’s comments as “stupid and deeply insensitive”.

He said: “Considering the Liberal Democrats are led by a man that introduced the motion to abolish Section 28, and the party legislated for same-sex marriage whilst in government, Peter Kyle’s comments show he has no understanding about our liberal values at all.

“Maybe this kind of naivety and underhand politics will cost Labour the Mid Bedfordshire by-election.

“It’s certainly motivating me to go and knock on doors for our local candidate there.”

The by-election has been triggered by the resignation of Conservative MP Nadine Dorries.

Voters in Mid Bedfordshire will go to the polls on October 19.