Lib Dem Candidate for Mole Valley Selected

Published on: 31 Jul, 2016
Updated on: 1 Aug, 2016

Paul Kennedy

By Will Parsons

Encouraged by the recent boosts to party membership Lib Dem Paul Kennedy is to have another go at winning the Mole Valley parliamentary seat, if a snap general election is called.

County councillor Kennedy was re-selected as the Lib Dem candidate for the Mole Valley constituency this week.

A former barrister, accountant, and actuary, Cllr Kennedy stood in the 2015 general election as the Lib Dem candidate but lost to the Conservative Sir Paul Beresford.

In May, Mr Kennedy secured a council seat for Fetcham West at Mole Valley District Council, but only came third in the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner election, won by Conservative candidate David Munro.

Saying he was “delighted and honoured” to have been re-selected, he continued: “More than ever we need a full-time campaigning MP and that is what I intend to be.

“Mole Valley is a beautiful and mostly prosperous part of the country. However, it faces severe local government cuts, attacks on the green belt and proposals to expand both Gatwick and Heathrow, which, for all their posturing, local Conservative MPs will do nothing to prevent.”

The Mole Valley constituency includes the five eastern wards of Guildford Borough – Effingham, Lovelace, Send, Tillingbourne, and Clandon & Horsley.

In an open letter, Mr Kennedy recently criticised the Conservative group at Guildford Borough Council (GBC) over its Local Plan, claiming that the council was “dysfunctional” and warning of the impact of the Plan on existing infrastructure and green belt land.

Were Mr Kennedy to become MP, Colin Cross, Lib Dem councillor for Lovelace, said: “In my Lovelace Ward I would see Paul being an active defender of the green belt, especially at critical sites such as the former Wisley Airfield.

“In terms of the Mole Valley he would be a proactive force for good in protecting our country towns, villages and rural life”

The re-selection of Mr Kennedy as candidate follows reports that the new prime minister might call a snap general election before any possible economic downturn and to take advantage of Labour infighting.

“Lib Dems have been preparing for a snap election by making sure that we have candidates in place across the country as well as locally, should there be a general election,” said Sue Doughty, chair of Guildford Lib Dems and former MP for Guildford.

“I’m delighted that Paul has been re-selected to fight Mole Valley. He is an excellent candidate, bringing great experience to the job as well as a strong desire to serve the communities which make up the Mole Valley constituency.”

Mr Kennedy said: “The Liberal Democrats are well placed to fight a general election whenever it is held and I am raring to go. Since the referendum we have signed up over 17,500 new members nationally, many of them in Mole Valley.

“We have a new army of activists who will be joining me on the doorstep, making the case for a full-time campaigning MP for Mole Valley.”

Lib Dem success would require a massive swing away from the Conservative party. In 2015, the Lib Dems secured only 14.5% of the vote in Mole Valley, similar to the 15.5% achieved in Guildford.

The Mole Valley constituency was created in 1983 from Dorking and Epsom & Ewell. It has a population of approximately 95,000 and an electorate of 75,000 voters, while the Guildford constituency, which includes Cranleigh, has a population of 107,000 and an electorate of 86,000.