Lib Dems plotting to oust Theresa May from Commons as they unveil Tory hit list

07 May 2023 , 10:35

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The Lib Dems are targeting Theresa May's Maidenhead seat after a strong local election showing (Image: PA)

The Lib Dems are hoping to boot Tory heavyweights Theresa May, Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove out of office at the next general election.

The trio's constituency are on a 20-strong list of targets the party thinks are winnable after a strong showing at the polls last week.

This morning Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said he's "spent my life" fighting Tories - and won't go back into Government with them.

Instead he hopes to drive out a number of top Tory figures including former Prime Minister Mrs May as well as Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and former chairman Nadhim Zahawi.

Dominic Raab, who last month quit as deputy PM after allegations of bullying, could also be unseated if the Lib Dems are successful.

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Sir Ed refused to rule out a deal with Labour after both parties made impressive gains as the Tories took a drubbing in local council elections.

Speaking to BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said he intends to give the Conservatives a kicking at the next general election.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey claims time is running out for Rishi Sunak's Tories (PA)

He said: "I spent all my life fighting the Conservatives."

When Ms Kuenssberg pointed out that he'd "sat round a table" with the Tories during the coalition government, he hit back; "I fought them every day during that period, let me tell you.

"You can fight within a Government and I did every day and I did with things like renewable power."

He said the local elections last week had been cause for optimism after the Lib Dems gained control of 12 councils and won an extra 405 seats.

They have identified 20 seats and hope high-profile casualties can include Michael Gove, Nadhim Zahawi and Theresa May.

Mrs May's Maidenhead constituency is among the party's target list, along with Mr Gove's Surrey Heath and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan's Chichester seat.

Sir Ed said: "What we've shown is that the Liberal Democrats can beat the Conservatives in many parts of the country."

He said several parts of the "Blue Wall" will be a straight fight between his party and the Tories, and said his focus would be on unseating as many Conservatives as possible.

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"It wouldn't be very sensible having spent so much time defeating Conservative MPs and them putting them back in Government," he said.

Michael Gove could be another high-profile casualty, the Lib Dems hope

Asked about the prospect of a coalition with Labour, he said: "That is a hypothetical question because we don't know what's going to happen after the next election."

Put to him that he was ruling out working with the Conservatives but not Labour, said: "The focus is on getting rid of Conservative MPs. I make no apology for that."

Dave Burke