13 Conservative MPs standing down in Blue Wall seats threatened by Lib Dems including Zahawi, Raab and May

EMBARGO: Immediate release

Around one in five Conservative MPs standing down are in Blue Wall seats where the Lib Dems are the main challengers, analysis by the party has found.

The research has identified 13 Conservative MPs who have announced they are standing down and where the LiberalDemocrats came second at the 2019 General Election. These include Dominic Raab in Esher and Walton, Nadhim Zahawi in Stratford, Stephen Hammond in Wimbledon and Theresa May in Maidenhead.

The Liberal Democrats have also made big local council election gains in these areas including winning control of the council in Stratford-upon-Avon and Windsor and Maidenhead last year.

A number of other Conservative MPs in seats under threat from the Liberal Democrats are doing “chicken runs” to neighbouring seats, including Cabinet Minister Michelle Donelan who is moving from her Chippenham constituency to Melksham and Devizes.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said:

“Right across the Blue Wall, Conservative MPs are either giving up the fight or moving to another seat because they’re worried about losing their seat to a Liberal Democrat surge.

“The Liberal Democrats are on the up, with four stunning by-election wins and more councillors gained in this Parliament than any other party.

“Lifelong Conservative voters are switching to us because they’re fed up with years of chaos under this government while local hospitals crumble and rivers are ruined by sewage.

“It’s clear that Rishi Sunak’s Government is living on borrowed time and sooner he calls the general election the better.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Seats where the LD came second in 2019 and the current Conservative MP is standing down:

Nadhim Zahawi - Stratford-on-Avon

Steve Brine - Winchester

Stephen Hammond - Wimbledon

Dominic Raab - Esher and Walton

Chris Grayling – Epsom and Ewell 

Adam Afriyie – Windsor

Paul Beresford – Mole Valley

John Howell – Henley

Philip Dunne – Ludlow

Paul Scully – Sutton and Cheam

Theresa May – Maidenhead

James Heappey – Wells

Nickie Aiken – Cities of London and Westminster

‘Chicken runs’

Anthony Browne - South Cambridgeshire (now standing in St Neots)

Bim Afolami - Hitchin and Harpenden (now standing in Hitchin)

Michelle Donelan - Chippenham (now standing in Melksham and Devizes)