The Lib Dem candidate for Leyton and Wanstead at June’s snap election has urged voters to support him in a “last chance” to prevent hard Brexit.

Ben Sims, who was named the party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) last July in case an early election was called, has pledged to give voters a final say on the UK’s future deal with the EU.

The candidate has called on those who voted remain in the referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union last June to lend him their vote in a bid to block hard Brexit.

The UK voted to leave the EU by a margin of 52 to 48 per cent in the referendum, with current Labour Leyton and Wanstead MP, John Cryer, supporting the leave campaign.

However, some 63 per cent of voters in the constituency backed remain, higher than the average in both Waltham Forest and Redbridge, the two boroughs Leyton and Wanstead straddles.

The UK Government officially triggered Article 50, giving notice it intends to leave the European Union, on March 29.

Mr Sims said: “Whichever party you usually vote for, this election is a last chance for voters in Leyton and Wanstead to send a message to their Brexit supporting Labour MP and the Conservative government.

“This election could change the direction of our country and prevent a disastrous hard Brexit.

“Despite people in Leyton and Wanstead voting decisively to remain in the EU, John Cryer supports Brexit.

“Residents certainly did not vote for the extreme form of Brexit that Theresa May has imposed on us after being backed by Labour and our Brexit supporting MP.

“For all those who want to protect our local economy by staying in the Single Market and ensure the people have the final say over what comes next, this is your chance.

“The Liberal Democrats are the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government and the only party fighting for a Britain that is open, tolerant and united.”

Mr Sims has previously worked in the field of human rights and international relations and was part of a team which won rights for miners during a trial in South Africa.

He campaigned for the UK to stay in the EU and is currently a small business owner, having founded a technology consulting business in 2013.

Other parties fighting the constituency are yet to announce their candidates.