General election 2010: Lib Dem disappointment as Tories hold Guildford
By Marina Kim
The Liberal Democrats have failed to take their number one target seat.
Conservative Anne Milton held on to her seat in Guildford with 29,618 votes (53.3%). Liberal Democrat Sue Doughty achieved 21,836 (39.3%).
The result represents a 6.9% swing from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives.
The failure to take the number one target seat will be viewed as ominous by Lib Dem supporters. In 2005 the difference between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats was less than one per cent.
The Guildford constituency is based around the town of Guildford and other outlying commuter towns and villages, most of which can be counted as part of London’s suburban sprawl, as well as pockets of semi-rural land.
The seat contains commercial and residential areas and is largely affluent.
