The Liberal Democrats have been “ramping up efforts” to oust Dominic Raab after the former Deputy Prime Minister was forced to quit Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet over an investigation into alleged bullying.
Raab, who was elected as Esher & Walton’s MP for a fourth time in 2019, resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary after two complaints were upheld in Adam Tolley KC’s inquiry.
Tolley was investigating eight formal complaints of bullying made against Raab as Justice Secretary and Foreign Secretary under Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary under Theresa May.
Sir Ed Davey visited the leafy Surrey seat on Friday in a sign of the Liberal Democrats ambitions to win over disaffected voters in the Tory Party’s traditional shire heartlands.
Dominic Raab facing new 'judgement day' as a 'shameless' bid to oust him as MP ramped up
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The former Environment Secretary believes his party has an opportunity to turn Esher & Walton orange for the first time after he celebrated Blue Wall by-election victories in Chesham & Amersham, North Shropshire and Tiverton & Honiton.
A Liberal Democrat insider revealed the pro-EU party is now working even harder to topple the Brexiteer in his Remain-voting seat.
The source told GB News: “We are ramping up efforts to oust Dominic Raab.
“Liberal Democrat activists are knocking on more doors than ever before and we have even opened a brand new campaigns office in the heart of the constituency.
“Next week voters in Esher & Walton can deliver their first verdict on Dominic Raab’s bullying scandal.”
The insider also suggested the Liberal Democrats have their sights set on becoming the largest party in Elmbridge for the first time after next month’s local elections.
Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson, who won the once marginal seat of Twickenham by 9,762-votes in 2019, added: “I spent the weekend knocking on doors in the constituency and heard from lifelong Conservative voters who are fed up with Dominic Raab.
“Local people are furious about his behaviour. There is real outrage at having an MP who is a bully.
Sir Ed Davey visited the leafy Surrey seat on Friday in a sign of the Liberal Democrats ambitions
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“The local elections next week will be judgement day for Dominic Raab and his out of touch Conservative Party.
“Local people told me the Conservative Party has done nothing to solve the cost-of-living-crisis and left the NHS at breaking point.
“Esher & Walton deserves better than Dominic Raab. The only way to get rid of Raab is to vote Liberal Democrat.”
Raab held on to Esher & Walton when Johnson romped to victory in 2019 by just 2,743 ballots as the Liberal Democrats slashed his 23,298-vote majority.
Raab also pointed out his resignation does not at all change his support for Sunak
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The Liberal Democrats have been making significant inroads in the so-called Blue Wall, particularly in areas which voted for the UK to remain in the European Union in 2016.
Sir Ed’s party made 194 net gains across England in 2022's local elections, snatching overall control in Tory-voting Woking.
But the Liberal Democrats have also managed to oust Tory councillors in districts which emphatically supported Brexit, including Epping Forest and Brentwood.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove, who was a leading figure in the Vote Leave campaign, is also at risk from the Liberal Democrats Blue Wall strategy.
Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson won the once marginal seat of Twickenham by 9,762-votes in 2019
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Gove’s pro-Brexit Surrey Heath seat has long been earmarked as a potential target for Sir Ed’s party but the Liberal Democrats may struggle to overturn the former journalist’s 18,349-vote majority.
Despite Sunak’s party facing challenges in both the Blue Wall and Red Wall, a Conservative MP claimed voters cannot trust the Liberal Democrats.
The Blue Wall Tory MP told GB News: “The Liberal Democrats are even more shameless than normal, telling Chesham & Amersham voters they are against HS2, whilst their national transport spokesman condemns the Government for not building it full and faster. The truth is, you just can’t trust the Liberal Democrats on anything.”
During his resignation letter, Raab criticsed Tolley’s “flawed” bullying probe.
Gove’s pro-Brexit Surrey Heath seat has long been earmarked as a potential target for Sir Ed Davey’s party
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He claimed: “In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent.”
Raab also accused some civil servants of "systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims" as he alleged a senior official initiated a "coercive removal" of some of his private secretaries last year.
However, the lawyer-turned-politician said he felt “duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry” and apologised for any "unintended stress or offence".
Raab also pointed out his resignation does not at all change his support for Sunak.
He wrote: "You have proved a great Prime Minister in very challenging times, and you can count on my support from the backbenches."