FORMER Coalition partners traded blows as they backed two candidates vying for a key Hampshire seat.

Conservative Chief Whip Michael Gove visited Bursledon to back party Eastleigh candidate Mims Davies, while Liberal Democrat energy and climate change minister Ed Davey was in the constituency to support party hopeful Mike Thornton.

Mr Davey who visited Itchen Valley Country Park and the borough council’s headquarters, praised Mr Thornton and the borough council’s track record on green issues as well as hailing the Lib Dem candidate, who was elected as MP in 2013, as a “hugely strong” MP for Eastleigh who has “really respected in Parliament”.

He said his party had put the environment on “the front page of the manifesto”, adding: “it’s been very disappointing that the rest of the parties have forgotten about green issues”.

But Mr Gove, who met party candidates and activists at the Jolly Sailor Pub, said: “The Lib Dems say they care about the environment but here in Eastleigh they failed to get the local plan adopted meaning the environment is at threat.”

He described Ms Davies as having “all of the skills to effective champion Eastleigh at the House of Commons”.

Ms Davies and Mr Thornton will battle Labour’s Mark Latham, UKIP’s Patricia Culligan, TUSC’s Declan Clune, the Green Party’s Ron Meldrum and Ray Hall for the Beer, Baccy and Scratchings Party.