Thanks to the Electoral Commission report, we now know that some of the Conservative party's central spending did benefit
MPs in the tightest races, but it was not declared.
Tim Farron, regarded as the frontrunner
in a two - horse
race, is thought to have as many former
MPs backing him, but it is significant that two former party leaders are willing to give their backing to Lamb
in what may emerge to be a
tighter contest than previously thought.