AS residents go to the polls today (Thursday) to decide who their new county councillors will be, candidates for next month’s General Election are throwing the hats into the ring.

Standing against Jeremy Hunt, who has been Conservative MP for South West Surrey since 2005, will be UKIP’s Mark Webber, who stood against Mr Hunt two years ago, as well as the Lib Dems’ Ollie Purkiss.

A ‘progressive alliance’ between Labour, the Green Party and National Health Action (NHA), possibly fronted by NHA candidate Dr Louise Irvine, is also on the cards, while Rowledge architect Mark Westcott is also considering a run against Mr Hunt as a “centrist centre left” Independent.

Launching his bid for a fifth term this week, Mr Hunt emphasised local as well as national considerations were a “core part of his commitment to the area”.

Announcing his bid for re-election, Mr Hunt said: “However safe the seat, we must remember every vote for Theresa May will strengthen her hand in the critical Brexit negotiations ahead.

“It has never been more important for our country to send out a strong signal of support for her as she goes into battle on our behalf. But if I am re-elected I also want to continue pushing for major local priorities for Haslemere, such as fighting to keep a post office in the town, improving ambulance response times so people get to hospital quickly in an emergency, securing a sustainable future for the Marjorie Gray Hall to support people with dementia and tackling the superfast broadband gaps in our villages.”

UKIP’s Mark Webber came second in 2015 with 5,643 votes. Last year he was involved in campaigning across London and the South East for a ‘leave’ vote in the EU referendum. The IT consultant specialises in banking and financial markets technology.

In a speech to party members, Mr Webber attacked Mr Hunt – “a Remainer” – for advocating a second referendum in the wake of last year’s Brexit vote “so people could change their minds”.

He added: “The electorate voted to leave the European Union, not to remain half-in and half-out”.

The Lib Dems’ candidate Ollie Purkiss, lives in Godalming with his wife and two young daughters and works as a computer games designer in Guildford.

While a passionate supporter of the Lib Dems for many years, he only joined the party in 2015. He was elected to Godalming Town Council in February 2016, where he claims to have achieved concessions on local bus cuts, ensured policies on improving air quality are included in the Neighbourhood Plan, and fought for more affordable housing across the area.

He told The Herald: “I am delighted to be selected to stand for the Liberal Democrats in South West Surrey against Jeremy Hunt, The big national issues facing us have real impact locally, and I relish the opportunity to take the government to task on the key issues such as our struggling social care system and cuts to school budgets.”

Mr Purkiss’ candidacy represents a blow to the South West Surrey Compass group, however, whose members recently voted en masse in favour of a single Labour, Lib Dems, Green and NHA candidate to contest the South West Surrey constituency.

The group hasn’t given up hope of nominating a single joint Labour, Green and NHA candidate however, and will hold a “progressive forum” to discuss it in Godalming on Saturday (see Letters Page for details).

Dr Irvine, who secured 4,851 votes in 2015 and came fourth overall, has confirmed her interest in representing the alliance, but only if she has the support of the other parties.

On the same day, by-elections will be held to elect two town councillors to the Haslemere South ward and one for the Hindhead ward.

Eligible voters must register by Monday, May 22 and can do so online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote – residents who require a postal vote must apply by 5pm, on Tuesday, May 23. Applications to vote by proxy must be received by 5pm, on Wednesday, May 31.

• THE East Hampshire Conservative Association has re-adopted Damian Hinds as its Parliamentary candidate. Mr Hinds, who has held the seat since 2010, is Minister for Employment, will stand again on Thursday, June 8.

A special general meeting, open to all local party members, was held at the Alton Community Centre last Thursday. Speaking ahead of the vote, Mr Hinds said: “I have been very conscious of both the great honour and the heavy responsibility of representing the people of East Hampshire in Parliament.

“I have always tried to be a diligent and responsive MP, and to do my best to help constituents with surgery cases.

“It has been a huge privilege to be able to make hundreds of visits to our excellent schools, local businesses and the many voluntary organisations which help to make East Hampshire such a special place.”

After the vote, Mr Hinds said he looked forward to the campaign and to engaging in constructive debate with all parties once again. As well as door-to-door campaigning, Mr Hinds said that he would once again host a series of open public meetings around the constituency.

No other political party or independent candidates have announced they intend to contest Mr Hinds’ seat.