Sir Vince Cable has accused Labour of making a so-called progressive alliance with the Liberal Democrats impossible.
The former Business Secretary was overheard appearing to back voting for pro-Remain Labour MP Rupa Huq in the Ealing Central and Acton constituency.
Sir Vince, who is trying to win back Twickenham from the Conservatives, told the Standard Labour moderates had been left in “complete despair” by their party’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
“The problem with this whole so-called ‘progressive alliance’ idea is the leadership of the Labour party which has made it impossible for people on the centre left, which is where I am roughly, to work with the Labour Party,” he said.
“I and the Lib Dems have made absolutely clear that we won't work with the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn any more than with the Conservatives,” he added.
Twickenham constituency
2015 MP: Conservative Tania Mathias
Majority: 2,077
It came as Jon Ball, the Lib Dem activist standing against Ms Huq, insisted he was “not a paper candidate”.
“The position is clear that we are fighting for every vote. We are not doing a deal with Labour,” he added.
Mr Ball said he felt supported by his party, despite Sir Vince’s comments and remarks by Sarah Olney, the Lib-Dem candidate for Richmond Park, who was heard saying “we know we want Rupa to win in Ealing”.
Discussing tactical voting, she said the Lib Dems could stand “paper candidates” by not campaigning in some areas.
Today, Ms Huq said Sir Vince’s backing was a “significant development” in her campaign against Tory Joy Morrissey. She believes Mr Ball should step aside as the Greens have already.
Ms Huq said: “In a tight race, it’d be wrong to sacrifice a good independently minded pro-Remain MP due to the personal vanity of the already twice-loser Lib Dem candidate standing to further his council bid in 2018.
“[Mr Ball] barely kept his deposit last time.
"He’s got no realistic possibility that he’s going to win.”
