Voting for the seat, held by Gove since 2005, closes on Thursday night and Lib Dem officials are planning for a potentially imminent campaign in which the party will fight on issues such as the state of local hospitals and drilling plans for natural gas locally. A Conservative source said, however, that it was not true that Gove planned to stand down as an MP. Speculation that he might have intensified since Gove publicly backed Rishi Sunak to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister and said he did not expect to be in government again. Before becoming an MP, Gove was a distinguished reporter for The Times and there have been reports that he is considering a return to the profession. Surrey Heath has been held by the Tories since the constituency was created in 2001, and Gove had a majority of more than 18,000 in the 2019 general election, although it was down from almost 25,000 in 2017. A Lib Dem source said the party had heard from several local sources that Gove could quit and would be hoping to emulate a trio of recent election successes against the Conservatives, two of which he overturned larger majorities. “We’re choosing a candidate and we’re on the alert, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the primaries will happen.” the source said. “We are also preparing in other places, for example in Mid Bedfordshire, if Nadine Dorries gets a peerage.” The Conservative source said: “Unfortunately this is yet another example of the Lib Dems’ dirty tricks. They are more interested in playing politics than delivering to the voters. Michael remains fully committed to his constituents in Surrey Heath and has no plans to stand down.” The Lib Dems’ hopes in the seat will be boosted by the party’s recent good performance in the so-called blue-wall commuter zone constituencies, notably the first of recent by-election victories in which the party overthrew a Conservative majority of over 16,000 to conquer Chesham and Amersham, just northwest of London, in June 2021. Since then the party has taken two previously safe Tory seats: North Shropshire in December 2021, overturning a majority of almost 23,000; and Tiverton and Honiton in Devon this June, where the Conservative margin was over 24,000. The party can also point to good local election results in May in nearby Woking – there were no council polls within the constituency – in which it took control from the Tories. “We never take anything for granted,” said a Lib Dem source. “It would be a very tough match and we always come in as underdogs. We don’t underestimate how hard we have to graft in every midterm election.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A Lib Dem campaign would focus partly on cost of living issues, but also on local factors such as the local hospital, Frimley Park, one of 34 in England with a concrete roof at risk of collapse, and the government’s decision to allow drilling for natural gas in Surrey Hills. Gove held a number of cabinet posts, including education, environment and communities and growth. Johnson sacked him from the latter job in July after Gove told the prime minister he should leave No 10. Earlier this month, Gove belatedly said he backed Mr Sunack as the next Tory leader and prime minister, warning Mr Sunack’s rival Liz Truss’ economic plans amounted to a “vacation from reality”. With Truss almost certain to win, this makes Gove’s chances of returning to the front benches very slim. Announcing his decision to back Sunak, Gove wrote in The Times: “I don’t expect to be in government again.”

title: “The Lib Dems Are Bracing For A Possible By Election If Michael Gove Quits Liberal Democrats Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Wendy Winston”

Voting for the seat, held by Gove since 2005, closes on Thursday night and Lib Dem officials are planning for a potentially imminent campaign in which the party will fight on issues such as the state of local hospitals and drilling plans for natural gas locally. A Conservative source said, however, that it was not true that Gove planned to stand down as an MP. Speculation that he might have intensified since Gove publicly backed Rishi Sunak to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister and said he did not expect to be in government again. Before becoming an MP, Gove was a distinguished reporter for The Times and there have been reports that he is considering a return to the profession. Surrey Heath has been held by the Tories since the constituency was created in 2001, and Gove had a majority of more than 18,000 in the 2019 general election, although it was down from almost 25,000 in 2017. A Lib Dem source said the party had heard from several local sources that Gove could quit and would be hoping to emulate a trio of recent election successes against the Conservatives, two of which he overturned larger majorities. “We’re choosing a candidate and we’re on the alert, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the primaries will happen.” the source said. “We are also preparing in other places, for example in Mid Bedfordshire, if Nadine Dorries gets a peerage.” The Conservative source said: “Unfortunately this is yet another example of the Lib Dems’ dirty tricks. They are more interested in playing politics than delivering to the voters. Michael remains fully committed to his constituents in Surrey Heath and has no plans to stand down.” The Lib Dems’ hopes in the seat will be boosted by the party’s recent good performance in the so-called blue-wall commuter zone constituencies, notably the first of recent by-election victories in which the party overthrew a Conservative majority of over 16,000 to conquer Chesham and Amersham, just northwest of London, in June 2021. Since then the party has taken two previously safe Tory seats: North Shropshire in December 2021, overturning a majority of almost 23,000; and Tiverton and Honiton in Devon this June, where the Conservative margin was over 24,000. The party can also point to good local election results in May in nearby Woking – there were no council polls within the constituency – in which it took control from the Tories. “We never take anything for granted,” said a Lib Dem source. “It would be a very tough match and we always come in as underdogs. We don’t underestimate how hard we have to graft in every midterm election.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A Lib Dem campaign would focus partly on cost of living issues, but also on local factors such as the local hospital, Frimley Park, one of 34 in England with a concrete roof at risk of collapse, and the government’s decision to allow drilling for natural gas in Surrey Hills. Gove held a number of cabinet posts, including education, environment and communities and growth. Johnson sacked him from the latter job in July after Gove told the prime minister he should leave No 10. Earlier this month, Gove belatedly said he backed Mr Sunack as the next Tory leader and prime minister, warning Mr Sunack’s rival Liz Truss’ economic plans amounted to a “vacation from reality”. With Truss almost certain to win, this makes Gove’s chances of returning to the front benches very slim. Announcing his decision to back Sunak, Gove wrote in The Times: “I don’t expect to be in government again.”

title: “The Lib Dems Are Bracing For A Possible By Election If Michael Gove Quits Liberal Democrats Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-28” author: “Kevin Estrada”

Voting for the seat, held by Gove since 2005, closes on Thursday night and Lib Dem officials are planning for a potentially imminent campaign in which the party will fight on issues such as the state of local hospitals and drilling plans for natural gas locally. A Conservative source said, however, that it was not true that Gove planned to stand down as an MP. Speculation that he might have intensified since Gove publicly backed Rishi Sunak to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister and said he did not expect to be in government again. Before becoming an MP, Gove was a distinguished reporter for The Times and there have been reports that he is considering a return to the profession. Surrey Heath has been held by the Tories since the constituency was created in 2001, and Gove had a majority of more than 18,000 in the 2019 general election, although it was down from almost 25,000 in 2017. A Lib Dem source said the party had heard from several local sources that Gove could quit and would be hoping to emulate a trio of recent election successes against the Conservatives, two of which he overturned larger majorities. “We’re choosing a candidate and we’re on the alert, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the primaries will happen.” the source said. “We are also preparing in other places, for example in Mid Bedfordshire, if Nadine Dorries gets a peerage.” The Conservative source said: “Unfortunately this is yet another example of the Lib Dems’ dirty tricks. They are more interested in playing politics than delivering to the voters. Michael remains fully committed to his constituents in Surrey Heath and has no plans to stand down.” The Lib Dems’ hopes in the seat will be boosted by the party’s recent good performance in the so-called blue-wall commuter zone constituencies, notably the first of recent by-election victories in which the party overthrew a Conservative majority of over 16,000 to conquer Chesham and Amersham, just northwest of London, in June 2021. Since then the party has taken two previously safe Tory seats: North Shropshire in December 2021, overturning a majority of almost 23,000; and Tiverton and Honiton in Devon this June, where the Conservative margin was over 24,000. The party can also point to good local election results in May in nearby Woking – there were no council polls within the constituency – in which it took control from the Tories. “We never take anything for granted,” said a Lib Dem source. “It would be a very tough match and we always come in as underdogs. We don’t underestimate how hard we have to graft in every midterm election.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A Lib Dem campaign would focus partly on cost of living issues, but also on local factors such as the local hospital, Frimley Park, one of 34 in England with a concrete roof at risk of collapse, and the government’s decision to allow drilling for natural gas in Surrey Hills. Gove held a number of cabinet posts, including education, environment and communities and growth. Johnson sacked him from the latter job in July after Gove told the prime minister he should leave No 10. Earlier this month, Gove belatedly said he backed Mr Sunack as the next Tory leader and prime minister, warning Mr Sunack’s rival Liz Truss’ economic plans amounted to a “vacation from reality”. With Truss almost certain to win, this makes Gove’s chances of returning to the front benches very slim. Announcing his decision to back Sunak, Gove wrote in The Times: “I don’t expect to be in government again.”

Voting for the seat, held by Gove since 2005, closes on Thursday night and Lib Dem officials are planning for a potentially imminent campaign in which the party will fight on issues such as the state of local hospitals and drilling plans for natural gas locally. A Conservative source said, however, that it was not true that Gove planned to stand down as an MP. Speculation that he might have intensified since Gove publicly backed Rishi Sunak to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister and said he did not expect to be in government again. Before becoming an MP, Gove was a distinguished reporter for The Times and there have been reports that he is considering a return to the profession. Surrey Heath has been held by the Tories since the constituency was created in 2001, and Gove had a majority of more than 18,000 in the 2019 general election, although it was down from almost 25,000 in 2017. A Lib Dem source said the party had heard from several local sources that Gove could quit and would be hoping to emulate a trio of recent election successes against the Conservatives, two of which he overturned larger majorities. “We’re choosing a candidate and we’re on the alert, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the primaries will happen.” the source said. “We are also preparing in other places, for example in Mid Bedfordshire, if Nadine Dorries gets a peerage.” The Conservative source said: “Unfortunately this is yet another example of the Lib Dems’ dirty tricks. They are more interested in playing politics than delivering to the voters. Michael remains fully committed to his constituents in Surrey Heath and has no plans to stand down.” The Lib Dems’ hopes in the seat will be boosted by the party’s recent good performance in the so-called blue-wall commuter zone constituencies, notably the first of recent by-election victories in which the party overthrew a Conservative majority of over 16,000 to conquer Chesham and Amersham, just northwest of London, in June 2021. Since then the party has taken two previously safe Tory seats: North Shropshire in December 2021, overturning a majority of almost 23,000; and Tiverton and Honiton in Devon this June, where the Conservative margin was over 24,000. The party can also point to good local election results in May in nearby Woking – there were no council polls within the constituency – in which it took control from the Tories. “We never take anything for granted,” said a Lib Dem source. “It would be a very tough match and we always come in as underdogs. We don’t underestimate how hard we have to graft in every midterm election.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A Lib Dem campaign would focus partly on cost of living issues, but also on local factors such as the local hospital, Frimley Park, one of 34 in England with a concrete roof at risk of collapse, and the government’s decision to allow drilling for natural gas in Surrey Hills. Gove held a number of cabinet posts, including education, environment and communities and growth. Johnson sacked him from the latter job in July after Gove told the prime minister he should leave No 10. Earlier this month, Gove belatedly said he backed Mr Sunack as the next Tory leader and prime minister, warning Mr Sunack’s rival Liz Truss’ economic plans amounted to a “vacation from reality”. With Truss almost certain to win, this makes Gove’s chances of returning to the front benches very slim. Announcing his decision to back Sunak, Gove wrote in The Times: “I don’t expect to be in government again.”