The Mole Valley Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman and health activist, Paul Kennedy is set to stand for election as Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

He will face current PCC Kevin Hurley on May 5 – along with Conservative candidate David Munro and a Labour candidate, who is yet to be announced.

Mr Kennedy stood against Sir Paul Beresford in his Mole Valley seat in the 2015 general election, losing by a majority of 25,435 - one of the largest in the country.

The Mole Valley Lib Dem said he would offer an alternative to Mr Hurley’s zero tolerance platform, on which he ran in 2012, which he deemed to be a failure.

Mr Kennedy said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to have this opportunity to serve the people of Surrey on this vital issue for the whole community.

“I will be offering a balanced, liberal, risk-based alternative to the failed ‘zero tolerance’ approach of the last three years.”

Mr Kennedy notably campaigned against the closure of Leatherhead Community Hospital last year, which remains open.

The incumbent Mr Hurley hit national headlines this week after he claimed he planned to sack his former chief constable, Lynne Owens, just weeks before she was appointed as head of the National Crime Agency.