Ed Davey visits Gillian Keegan’s seat as Lib Dems target cabinet ministers’ seats

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey is today visiting Gillian Keegan’s seat of Chichester, as the party looks to target Conservative cabinet ministers’ seats at the General Election.

Keegan is one of six Conservative ministers who have constituencies where the Lib Dems have beaten the Conservatives in recent elections.

These include Justice Secretary Alex Chalk in Cheltenham where Ed Davey kick started his campaign tour on Thursday and Michael Gove in Surrey Heath which the Lib Dem leader visited the day the election was called. These are followed by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in Godalming and Ash, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer in South East Cambridgeshire and Science Secretary Michelle Donelan in Chippenham.

It means over one in four of the 23 current cabinet ministers are in seats under threat from the Lib Dems. 

Other Conservative big beasts who have seen their local council lose control to the Lib Dems include Theresa May in Windsor and Maidenhead, Dominic Raab in Esther and Walton, Greg Clark in Tunbridge Wells and John Redwood in Wokingham, all of whom are now standing down.

It comes after the Liberal Democrats won more seats than the Conservatives at the May local elections for the first time in 30 years, making significant gains in the Blue Wall and West Country.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

“The Conservative Party has a record of failure after years of chaos and neglect. It’s little wonder voters in Chichester and across former Conservative heartlands are turning to the Liberal Democrats instead. 

“This Conservative government has got to go and it’s clear that in many parts of the country it is the Liberal Democrats who can get them out. This election is our chance to deliver the change our country desperately needs.” 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Conservative cabinet ministers at risk from Lib Dems based on local elections results in 2023 and 2024

Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor, South West Surrey

Gillian Keegan, Education Secretary, Chichester

Lucy Frazer, Culture Secretary, South East Cambridgeshire

Alex Chalk, Justice Secretary, Cheltenham

Michelle Donelan, Science Secretary, Chippenham