IN 2010, Liberal Democrat Gordon Birtwistle seizing Burnley from Labour was one of the biggest shocks of the General Election.

It helped to pave the way for his party’s ill-fated coalition government with the Conservatives.

Two years ago the one-time borough leader, in much more difficult circumstances, came a respectable second by just 3,244 votes by fighting a one-man campaign.

This time he’s at it again, under the slogan of ‘A people’s politician who puts people before politics’ and ditching his party’s central policy of a second referendum on Brexit.

Another unusual feature of this election has been first Tory candidate Paul White, then Mr Birtwistle and finally Green Laura Fisk all going on pre-booked holidays during the campaign.

They all, it seems, were caught unawares by Theresa May’s decision to spring a surprise election.

Aware of the massive vote to leave the EU last year, Mr Birtwistle said: “I supported remain but people just want to get on with the process of leaving so I don’t want a second referendum.”

He detects growing support for the Conservatives and their Mr White, who led the ‘Out’ campaign in the North-West region.

Labour’s Julie Cooper agrees: “I think it is a two-horse race between us and the Tories.

“I have heard little about the Lib Dems on the doorstep.

“I have seen a growth of Conservative support and former UKIP voters saying they go to them.

“There are also Green supporters voting Labour this time.

“Our leader Jeremy Corbyn has been going down well with voters who say the more they see of him, the more they like him.

“The big issue is jobs and how Brexit might be affect manufacturing, automotive and aerospace firms if we get the wrong deal.

“People are very concerned about the NHS and education under Tories cuts and there is a lot of concern about their policy on paying for adult social care.”

Mr Birtwistle is uncharacteristically downbeat about his chances: “I don’t know what will happen.

“We are a small team fighting hard.

“The key issues are investment in Burnley and the NHS.

“I am fighting on my record of what I have done for Burnley in the past in brining investment and jobs to the town.

“I am also campaigning on bringing back more of Burnley’s hospital.”

Laura Fisk of the Green Party and Ukip’s Tom Commis both have little chance of winning but could affect the result and hinder any Conservative revival.

Mr Commis, a 39-year-old former dustman and call-centre worker, denies any leakage of his votes to the Conservatives.

He said: “People should vote for me because only UKIP can ensure that the result of the referendum is followed through properly.

“I am concerned about housing and want to see help for first time buyers extended existing cheaper homes and more use of factory-made modular homes.”

Dr Fisk, a 32-year-old psychologist, said: “People should vote Green for investment in Burnley that benefits local people not property developers.

“I want to see empty homes brought back into use and green spaces not new housing developments.”

Mr White, a 39-year-old marketing company boss and Pendle Borough councillor, said: “The support has been incredible.

“We are getting lifelong Labour voters saying they will vote Conservative for the first time ever. They don’t like Jeremy Corbyn and they do like Theresa May.

“They want a government that gets on with a proper Brexit and they are fed up of seeing Burnley and Padiham stagnate under Labour and Liberal Democrat councils and MPs. They want to vote for a change.”

On ‘Vacationgate’ Mr White adds waspishly: “Most people we’re speaking to think Julie has been on holiday for the past two years.”

He may indeed be leading an unexpected Tory revival in Burnley where his party has been in the doldrums for decades.

However it may help Mrs Cooper to be returned to Westminster with the kind of comfortable majority Labour MPs have historically enjoyed.

The candidates are: Gordon Birtwistle, Liberal Democrat; Tom Commis, UKIP; Julie Cooper, Labour; Laura Fisk, Green; Paul White Conservative.

The 2015 result: Labour Julie Cooper 14,951; Liberal Democrat Gordon Birtwistle 11,707; UKIP Tom Commis 6,864; Conservative Sarah Cockburn-Price 5,374; Green Mike Hargreaves 850. Majority 3,244. Turnout 61.6 per cent.