Diamond Lights
Alan Hutton
North Shropshire is a deepest blue Tory seat. it has been for 200 hundred years straight. It was never voting for a Labour candidate. Labour voters did the wise and next best thing, they voted for a candidate who could win.
also well established last few years Lib Dems have a great record in by-elections mid cycle. I dont think a 'pact' was officially made, but under the table, for sure something was done to ensure Labour votes went to Lib Dems if it meant the Tories losing a seat.
As we've seen, our political landscape, FPTP and jurisdictions/boundaries are gearted towards handing power to the Tories.