The Tory candidate to exchange Michael Gove has boasted about shifting into a house within the constituency, just for it emerge the property was seemingly an AirBnb.
Councillor Ed McGuinness, who’s operating to be the Conservative MP for Surrey Heath, stated he’s “now a resident of St Paul’s ward”.
Alongside footage of himself getting into a home, Mr McGuinness stated Surrey Heath residents “rightly count on their MP to be part of their neighborhood”.
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Blaming Mr Gove’s final minute resolution to step down when the snap summer time common election was referred to as, Mr McGuinness stated it has been “arduous to get a spot so rapidly”.
However customers on social media platform X rapidly posted footage of an AirBnB itemizing that appeared to indicate the identical home.
The property is described on the rental web site as “a light-weight and ethereal self contained annex”.
One stated it was “a bit bizarre to do a ‘getting the keys’ shot for an AirBnb’”.
A neighborhood be aware on X stated: “The property featured right here seems on AirBnb and is due to this fact not indicative of the consumer being a ‘resident’ of the area people.
“Furthermore the supply of the property doesn’t point out a long-term reserving has been made.”
On the time of Mr McGuinness’s publish in regards to the dwelling, it nonetheless seemed to be accessible to e-book on a number of days in July.
![Ed McGuinness hopes to succeed Michael Gove, who is not standing in Surrey Heath at the General Election](https://i0.wp.com/static.independent.co.uk/2024/05/25/09/08b9e3966399a22f9e436f22b3673720Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE2NzEwNjgy-2.76264105.jpg?ssl=1)
A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, who’re eyeing up the seat, stated: “From Gove giving as much as a candidate seemingly tenting in an AirBnb, it’s clear the Conservatives are operating terrified of the Liberal Democrats proper throughout Surrey. To be sincere, it will be the very best for Mr McGuinness as he may very well be gone from the constituency in only a few weeks.”
Mr McGuinness is a former British Military officer and veteran of Afghanistan. His web site describes him as a political commentator, an lively Conservative campaigner, a former Affiliation Chairman and now a Potential Parliamentary Candidate.
Mr Gove, one of many longest-serving Conservative ministers and the final remaining high-profile MP from the David Cameron authorities elected in 2010, introduced he would step down on the 4 July election after it was referred to as.
The shock announcement was a blow to the Tory Get together which is dealing with an exodus of high-profile MPs on the election.
The secretary of state for Levelling Up, posted on X: “After almost 20 years serving the great individuals of Surrey Heath and over a decade in Cupboard throughout 5 authorities departments, I’ve right now taken the choice to step down as a Member of Parliament.”
Mr Gove stated it was time for a “new era” to guide and highlighted his time in numerous authorities roles, together with as schooling secretary, Cupboard workplace minister and housing secretary.
The Lib Dems imagine that Mr Gove’s Surrey Heath seat can also be up for grabs. It too was altered within the boundary overview however the Lib Dems hope to overturn what was an 18,349 majority in 2019 below the previous boundaries.
Mr McGuinness was requested to remark.