The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, has said that 2024 will be the year voters “finally get to pack up” the Conservative government.

He told an audience of cheering activists – some of whom were carrying cardboard boxes – that he was launching the “Blue Wall’s premium unseating service for Tory MPs”.

Speaking in Guildford, which is one of his party’s target seats, Sir Ed also announced that the Lib Dems would next week launch a bid in Parliament for the election to take place on 2 May.