CONTROVERSY surrounding South West Surrey’s Labour and Lib Dem candidates for the June 8 general election intensified after the Lib Dem’s 2010 candidate came out in support of rival Dr Louise Irvine.

In a letter to this week’s Herald (published in full on page 17), Mike Simpson - who secured a 30 per cent share of the votes in 2010 to finish second behind the constituency’s long-standing Tory MP Jeremy Hunt - has urged everyone who backed him seven years ago to support Lewisham GP Dr Louise Irvine, who is standing for a second time as the National Health Action candidate.

It contrasts with the Lib Dem’s national party line, which this week formally selected Godalming town councillor Ollie Purkiss to represent the party in South West Surrey on June 8, resisting calls to give Dr Irvine a clear run at the Health Secretary.

The national Labour party has also rejected calls for a ‘progressive alliance’, and has nominated David Black, an IT manager who once campaigned alongside Mr Hunt against the closure of Milford Hospital, to stand for election in SW Surrey next month.

It comes after Labour dramatically expelled three long-serving members from the party last week, for their part in a plot to unite behind Dr Irvine as Jeremy Hunt’s sole left-wing opposition in the constituency.

Dr Irvine was selected as the alliance candidate at a meeting organised by the SW Surrey Compass group on May 6 and claims to have the backing of local Labour and Lib Dem members, as well as the Green Party, which agreed to stand down its candidate Susan Ryland.

Clarifying SW Surrey Lib Dems’ position, Paul Farthing, vice-chairman, who led internal Lib Dem consultation with the membership and the executive during chairman Stewart Edge’s temporary absence abroad, said: “While there was lot of support for standing aside, for a significant number this was dependent on Labour also standing down and there were many who were opposed on principle.

“The executive voted by a clear majority to continue to put forward Ollie Purkiss as the Liberal Democrat candidate. 

“The decision was taken in the belief that as well as the NHS, the clear position of the Lib Dems on the vital issues of Brexit and local education cuts will encourage previous Tory voters to consider switching their support”.

The five candidates to contest the general election in South West Surrey on June 8 have been confirmed as follows: David Black (Labour), Jeremy Hunt (Conservative), Dr Louise Irvine (National Health Action), Ollie Purkiss (Liberal Democrat) and Mark Webber (UKIP).

Jeremy Hunt has served as the constituency MP since 2005, and secured a 60 per cent vote share and 28,556 vote majority at the last election in 2015. Dr Irvine and fervent Brexiteer Mr Webber both stood against Mr Hunt in 2015, finishing fourth and second respectively.

• In order to be eligible to vote in the general election it is necessary to register by Monday, May 22, online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Waverley 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 Herald will publish personal profiles of all five parliamentary candidates in South West Surrey in its Thursday, June 1 edition.