Voters on the streets of Honiton - part of the Tiverton and Honiton by-election - have told how they are preparing to ditch the Tories.
The ballot is one of two polls on June 23 which Tory insiders fear could plunge Boris Johnson's Partygate-impaled premiership into deeper peril, if he survives that long.
The Lib Dem candidate, a former soldier bidding to eliminate Boris Johnson from the political battlefield, said losing a crunch by-election could topple the Prime Minister.
Ex-Army Major Richard Foord, 44, has planted his tanks firmly on the Tory lawn for the fight triggered by tractor porn MP Neil Parish’s resignation.
The seat has a whopping 24,000 majority and has always returned a Tory but the Lib Dems believe they're in with a chance due to sleaze.
So we went out and about and asked the voters of the seat in Devon what they thought.
Julie Garland, 56, a betting shop manager, said: “Boris isn’t handling things very well, he seems to be lying about a lot of things and not doing what everyone was hoping he would do.
“He’s always blaming other people, not admitting to what he has done wrong.
“I voted Tory before but I’m not voting Tory on June 23. I will read up on the others to see what they have got to offer.”
Nursery assistant Naomi Bowman, 21, said: “Me and my mum have always voted Conservative but the way he has been lately we have changed our opinions - mainly because of the parties.
“And I was completely disgusted about Neil Parish watching pornography - it was outrageous.
“I think I will vote Lib Dem.”
Ben Totten, 18, a sixth-form student who will vote in his first election, said: “I’m excited, it’s nice to have a say for the local community.
“I’m not too sure who I will vote for but I’m not going to vote Conservative - not with the recent MP ‘looking at tractors’ in the House of Commons.
“I don’t think the Prime Minister is very intelligent, he’s a bit of a buffoon - all the parties and blatant lies.
“The Conservatives losing would send a message to the Prime Minister because the South West is predominantly Conservative.”
Paul Espiritu, 29, a kitchen assistant, said: “I’m thinking about going for the Liberal Democrats.
“I have lost confidence in the Conservatives and Boris Johnson - it’s been a slow process and has built up through the years after Brexit.
“Tory MPs are putting in letters of no confidence in him.
“I have voted Conservative in the 12 years I have been here but I’m going to switch.”
David Parr, 72, a retired gardener, said: “I’m thinking about voting for the Liberals for a change - I’ve voted Conservative in the past.
“Boris has done his best but the cost of living has gone up for everybody - that’s really important for me and I think it’s going to get worse with food and petrol going up.”
But gas engineer Tim Avery, 66, said: “I think Boris Johnson is brilliant, he comes out with it as it is.
“One or two of them waff on for ages but he says what it is and isn’t.
“I’m not bothered about the parties in Downing Street, I still think he’s got good ideas.
“I’ve always voted Tory and I will again.”
