Ed Davey 'campaigning hard' to win back Sheffield

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey visited Whinfell Quarry Gardens in Sheffield

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his party was "campaigning hard" to win back the Sheffield Hallam seat.

On a visit to Whinfell Quarry Gardens on Thursday, the leader championed candidate Shaffaq Mohammed, who he said was a "great spokesperson" for the city.

Sheffield Hallam was famously held by former party leader Nick Clegg between 2005 and 2017.

The Liberal Democrats are hoping to take the seat back from Labour, who narrowly won in 2019 with a majority of 712 votes.

The constituency's dramatic recent history included the election of Jared O'Mara, who defeated Clegg in 2017. O'Mara was later jailed for fraud.

Sir Ed told the BBC: "Lots of people who were thinking of voting Labour will actually switch to the Liberal Democrats because they know Sheffield is going to have a lot of Labour MPs."

He added that it would be good to have a "different voice" for the city to challenge what he believes would be a Labour government.

"We're not going to take anyone for granted here in Sheffield Hallam," Sir Ed said.

"We've got people who used to vote Conservative backing us and people who were thinking of voting Labour backing us."

New homes

Sir Ed said a big investment in the renewable energy industry could create "huge jobs" in Sheffield. He promised to support transport infrastructure and boost social housing.

"We’ve got a plan for 150,000 new social homes every year," Sir Ed told the BBC.

"We'd fund that through borrowing because it's a capital investment, but with people finding affordable housing difficult to come by, I think that's a good strategy."

When asked whether he was worried the Liberal Democrats would be squeezed out by Labour and the Conservatives, Sir Ed said the polls told a different story.

"We have the potential of being the surprise of this election," he said.

"In vast parts of the south of England and the south west, we’re the only ones to vote for if you want to get rid of the Conservatives."

In Yorkshire, he was looking at Sheffield Hallam and Harrogate as two seats the party could possibly win.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was also in the region today, visiting the Germany Beck development in the York suburb of Fulford.

Sir Keir Starmer visited a North Yorkshire building site earlier ahead of the leaders' debate

He also promised to build more affordable homes, while still protecting the Yorkshire countryside.

The party leader has said he would take a "yimby" - which stands for "yes in my backyard" - approach to new housing.

Both leaders will appear alongside Conservative leader Rishi Sunak and leader of the Scottish National Party, John Swinney, at the BBC Question Time debate in York this evening.

Reform leader Nigel Farage is not thought to be attending.

The debate will take place at the University of York at 20:00 BST and is available to watch live on BBC One and iPlayer.

Full list of candidates standing in Sheffield Hallam

Andrew Cowell - Social Democratic Party

Isaac Howarth - Conservative Party

Jason Leman - Green Party

Mo Moui-Tabrizy - Workers Party of Britain

Olivia Blake - Labour Party

Sam Chapman - Rejoin EU

Shaffaq Mohammed - Liberal Democrats

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