Alan Partridge actor Steve Coogan backs bid to oust Tory MP in next election

Alan Partridge actor Steve Coogan has revealed his plan to "kick the Tories out" at the next general election.

The comedian, who lives near Barcombe, says he will be voting for the Lewes constituency's Liberal Democrat candidate James Macleary in what will be a tactical move.

The Lib Dems laid out their proposals for electoral reform during the party conference in Bournemouth at the weekend.

Coogan and Countdown star Carol Vorderman both recorded video messages which were screened at the conference.

Steve Coogan's message was broadcast to delegates at the conference (Image: Stefan Rousseau / PA Wire)

The actor said: "I'm not a member of the Lib Dems despite the beard and the fleece. I generally vote Labour but where I live in Lewes, the candidate best placed to kick the Tories out is the Lib Dem candidate, so I vote for them."

He said it would be tactical voting in a bid to topple current Tory MP Maria Caulfield, who was elected in 2015.

Coogan supported calls to replace the first past the post electoral system with proportional representation, saying “millions of people’s voices go unheard”.

Maria Caulfield

Delegates gathered at the Bournemouth International Centre for what they believe will be their last conference before the general election, which is expected next year.

Former Countdown presenter Carol Vorderman said the current system fails to deliver parliaments that “properly reflect the will of the nation”.

She said: “We desperately need to end a system where only marginal seats matter, end a system which delivers parliaments that fail to accurately reflect votes cast and end a system where only the winners' votes count.

Carol Vorderman (Image: Yui Mok/PA)

“It doesn’t deliver parliaments that properly reflect the will of the nation. It has to change. But how do we get there? Well, in my opinion, the first step is tactical voting.

“At the next general election, it is absolutely vital that we come together to defeat the Tories.

“I have never seen anything this morally bankrupt in my life. Time and time again this Conservative government has taken us for fools and has proven it is not fit to run this country.”

The Lib Dems have long called for proportional representation, under which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast, to replace the current “winner takes all” system.

There has been speculation that such reform could be the party’s price for any potential post-election pact with Labour.