Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has launched an attack on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on a visit to Kent.

Ms Cooper, who is MP for St Albans, described Mr Farage as a “pal” of US President Donald Trump and an “apologist” for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

She also said the Reform leader does not have a plan although she conceded voters have been driven to the party because of the performance of the Conservatives and Labour.

Ms Cooper was on a visit to Westerham, in the Sevenoaks west division of Kent County Council, today (Monday) ahead of Thursday’s (May 1) election.

The Liberal Democrats have targeted it as a potential scalp, fielding local resident Sandra Robinson as their candidate. Incumbent Nick Chard is standing down.

Asked why Reform UK is doing so well presently, she said: “I think, quite frankly, many people haven’t forgiven the Conservatives for the disastrous way they ran the country and they’re very disappointed in the Labour Party, so I am not remotely surprised that people are looking to other parties for alternatives to vote for.

“What I can tell people is that Nigel Farage doesn’t have a plan.

“He’s pals with Donald Trump and he is a Putin apologist.

“The Liberal Democrats are community champions who work hand in glove with their communities, protecting local services against the odds.”

The Lib Dems currently have six seats at County Hall - compared to the Conservatives’ 56 - but hope to double their numbers.

All the parties are reporting a significant number of undecided voters on the doorstep and that turnout on the day could be key.

Asked how well the Liberal Democrats will fare on Thursday, Ms Cooper said: “We are very optimistic that we can make some significant gains in the elections this week.

“We won’t take a single vote for granted and that’s why our activists will be out fighting tooth and nail to get as many Kent county councillors elected as possible.”

Asked to comment on a speculated deal with the Conservatives, she said: “Many residents will not have made up their minds how they are going to vote so I am not going to speculate what is going to happen at 10pm on Thursday.”

Ms Robinson said: “The campaign is going really well. It is really heartening, too, to find that it’s not the colour of the bag you are carrying but the contents of the bag that matters.

“I have lived here for 30 years and I would like to be a voice of the community, standing up for people who have just been left behind.”

A Reform UK spokesman said: “These are just more desperate lies from the Lib Dems who seem to spend more of their time pulling embarrassing stunts and cancelling VE day celebrations than offering anything of substance to voters in Kent.

“Nigel Farage and Reform UK have made it crystal clear: we condemn Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

“Our deputy leader even personally delivered aid to Ukraine – which is more than can be said for Daisy Cooper.”

The candidates in the Sevenoaks West division are:

BASSI, Steve - Reform UK

PROUDFOOT, Neil - Labour and Co-operative Party

ROBINSON, Sandra Dara - Liberal Democrat

ROYSTON, Robert Edward - The Green Party

WILLIAMS, Nigel Edward Staddon - Conservative Party