JEREMY Hunt affirmed his desire to continue as Health Secretary “if Theresa May asks me to” at the first pre-election hustings for South West Surrey, held at Haslemere Hall.

Mr Hunt , who has held the seat for the Tories since 2005, went head to head against rival contenders David Black (Labour), Dr Louise Irvine (NHA), Ollie Purkiss (Lib Dems) and Mark Webber (UKIP) on Friday, May 19.

Dr Louise Irvine, a Lewisham GP, said she stood against Mr Hunt in 2015 because she believed he had failed the NHS and was challenging him again “because it had got worse”.

When each candidate was asked what office of state they would most like to hold if elected, Mr Hunt said: “What I am going to say will be a very grave disappointment to friends of the NHA in the front row here, but I would like to continue if Theresa May asks me.

“The problem is there are not enough doctors and nurses. Since I have been Health Secretary there are 6,500 more nurses. I would like to oversee a bigger expansion and prioritise mental health and maternity safety.”

Equally keen to be Health Secretary, Dr Irvine pledged to remove the cap on pay and restore the nurse bursaries in order to restore NHS staff morale.

“I love the NHS but fear I for its future,” she said. “I was shocked by hospital trolley waits last winter. I was shocked when Red Cross declared a humanitarian crisis. This situation has occurred on Hunt’s watch over the last five years. I believe Hunt has failed and that’s why I’m standing again.”

A strong turnout by vocal NHA supporters made for a boisterous first hustings and the emphasis on the state of the NHS meant Mr Hunt and Dr Irvine clashed repeatedly.

Mr Black, a former Godalming resident, spoke up strongly for Labour policies, despite being in a Tory heartland “in deepest darkest Surrey and the bowels of Haslemere”.

Attacking Mr Hunt’s record as Health Secretary, he said: “Unrepentant Tory gave you Brexit and cuts to the NHS. They now want more of same but coming for pensioners. Every vote for Jeremy Hunt is an endorsement of his handling of the NHS.”

Addressing Brexit, Mr Webber, who also stood in 2015, urged everyone to vote for UKIP to avoid a “soft Brexit” that “would keep us locked in”. Mr Purkiss, a Godalming resident “immersed in the community and local issues” called for everyone to vote for the Lib Dems as “the clear alternative to a damaging Brexit”, while Mr Black backed “the infamous soft Brexit”.

After thanking the local Progressive Alliance movement that led to the Green Party stepping aside in support of the NHA’s South West Surrey parliamentary bid, Dr Irvine said NHA voted for remain.

There were boos and applause, when she said, echoing the Lib Dems: “We have to go for a soft Brexit. If elected we would put the Brexit deal to Parliament and a second referendum.”

Repenting his original call after voting to remain for a second referendum, there was laughter in the hall when Mr Hunt said: “I am very confident we will make a terrific success of Brexit. It would be catastrophic if we want to bring the country together, if the establishment tries to unpick a decision. Every vote will be used by Europeans to say your government is not behind you.”

• The next hustings will be held at Farnham Maltings tonight (Friday) starting at 7pm.