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Two MPs in Change UK today praised the Liberal Democrats’ leadership frontrunner Jo Swinson, fuelling expectation that the smaller anti-Brexit party will move closer to its older rival.

Former Tory MP Anna Soubry welcomed Ms Swinson’s formal announcement of her leadership bid, tweeting that “she would be an excellent leader”.

Former Labour MP Mike Gapes also praised Ms Swinson’s performance on Question Time last night, tweeting: “Congratulations to @joswinson for making the case for a People’s Vote and exposing the nonsense of Corbyn Labour’s Barry Gardiner.”

This was a boost to Ms Swinson, who was launching her campaign at a tech startup founded by Euan Blair, the son of former Labour premier Tony Blair, in London today.

The Lib Dems were also celebrating a YouGov poll showing them beating the mainstream parties, with 24 per cent of the support.

Ms Swinson told the Standard: “I’m running to be the leader because I think we need to build a liberal movement that can stand up to the forces of nationalism and populism.

“The Liberal Democrats will be at the heart of that movement, as we proved in London when we topped the poll in the European elections. I want to lead this party to make sure we take the fight to Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage.”

Asked if she could see a Lib Dem prime minister, East Dunbartonshire MP Ms Swinson told Today: “We should be ambitious.”

But YouGov’s Chris Curtis warned: “The Cleggmania of 2010 faded fast.”