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Nick Clegg was today drafted in to front campaigning for Liberal Democrats for the second time in two days.

The former deputy Prime Minister visited Kingston Hospital in south west London with Tim Farron to warn of the “damaging exodus” of skilled NHS workers from the EU because of Brexit.

His intervention comes just 24 hours after he led the party’s critique of the Conservative plan to axe universal free school meals for infants during a speech in target seat Vauxhall.

With the latest poll average putting the party on 8.5 percent, there is speculation Mr Clegg’s more frequent appearances beside Mr Farron are intended to give the party a boost in the last eight days of campaigning.

Mr Clegg warned that London could lose 8,666 NHS doctors and nurses from the EU if earlier predictions EU staff will seek to leave the UK after Brexit bear out.

Alongside Richmond Park candidate Sarah Olney and former Energy Secretary and Kingston & Surbiton candidate Sir Ed Davey, Mr Clegg met with doctors and nurses at Kingston who are part of a support group for EU nationals concerned at the impact of Brexit.

Mr Clegg, said: “London depends on doctors, nurses and other support staff from the EU, many of whom are now planning to leave the country because of the uncertainty caused by Brexit.

“We must guarantee their rights to stay here immediately to prevent a damaging exodus of these skilled and hard-working people, who all work tirelessly to look after us.

“The Liberal Democrats stand up to Theresa May’s extreme Brexit and give the people the final say, with the choice to remain in the European Union if they don’t like the deal on offer.”

Businesswoman and pro-Remain campaigner Gina Miller today joined the Lib Dem campaign in Vauxhall today, where the party hopes to take the seat from Labour’s Kate Hoey, who backed Brexit.