By James Chapman The Liberal Democrats are on course to lose a swathe of seats to their Conservative coalition partners at next year’s general election, according to a major new series of polls. A study across 17 crucial Tory-Lib Dem marginal constituencies found that the Lib Dem vote has collapsed so significantly that as many as 15 of the party’s MPs are set to lose to Tory challengers. The Lib Dems are braced to lose more seats to Labour in the north of the country, where their vote has also slumped since 2010. The findings will pile pressure on Nick Clegg, who has attempted to reassure MPs and activists that despite a grim national picture, the Lib Dems are holding up in those seats where they are incumbent, particularly where the Conservatives are the main opposition.
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New study looked across 17 crucial Tory-Lib Dem marginal constituencies
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Found Lib Dem vote has collapsed - and up to 15 MPs may lose to Tories
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Party braced to lose more seats to Labour in the north of the country
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Findings will pile pressure on Clegg ahead of 2015 general election
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Leader is attempting to reassure MPs the party will hold incumbent seats
Lib Dem MPs on the left of the party claim they have been approached by members of the 1922 committee of @placeholder backbenchers seeking allies for a plot to try to break up the coalition.