‘Gove saw the polls and realised he might lose’: Lib Dems hope to knock down Tory ‘blue wall’ in Surrey

Ed Davey's party is seeking to win over disillusioned Conservative voters in the Surrey Heath seat of outgoing minister Michael Gove

Shortly after Rishi Sunak got drenched in a downpour in Downing Street to call a surprise general election, a missive was sent out to party supporters in a key Surrey constituency to rally support.

Campaigners were urged to safeguard the future" of the leafy Surrey Heath seat in the commuter belt and be fully dedicated to making sure Michael Gove is re-elected".