Richmond Park by-election
"The Liberal Democrats have caused a major upset in the Richmond Park by-election, overturning a 23,015 majority to oust ex-Tory MP Zac Goldsmith.
Mr Goldsmith stood as an independent after leaving the Conservative Party in protest at the government's decision to back a third Heathrow runway. But Lib Dem Sarah Olney, who is also opposed to Heathrow expansion, fought the campaign on the issue of Brexit. Ms Olney polled 20,510 votes to Mr Goldsmith's 18,638.The Conservative Party, UK Independence Party and Green Party did not field candidates." [x]
Zac was :(
A notably subdued Goldsmith thanked his team and insisted: “This byelection was not a political calculation. It was a promise that I made and it was a promise that I kept.” [x]
As was the Mogg:
Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg conceded the vote had been about Brexit as Richmond "was a very strong pro-Remain constituency". He praised Mr Goldsmith's "nobility" for keeping his word, but said it was a "real shame" that an independently minded person like him would no longer be in Parliament.[x]
The LibDems took it well, obviously:
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the result "was a remarkable, come-from-nowhere upset that will terrify the Conservatives", but he claimed it was also a rejection of "a hard Brexit". [x]
Speaking alongside Olney in the south-west London constituency on Friday morning, Farron was cautiously optimistic about the Lib Dems’ chances in a general election but said: “This result might change the direction of British politics. It’s about momentum.”
Olney, a local accountant who only became involved in politics a year ago, took to the stage at the announcement of her victory in the early hours of Friday to say that voters had “sent a shockwave through this Conservative Brexit government”.
[x]
Zac's brother Ben.. not so much
But let's stay positive
From the by-election
From October
Mr Goldsmith stood as an independent after leaving the Conservative Party in protest at the government's decision to back a third Heathrow runway. But Lib Dem Sarah Olney, who is also opposed to Heathrow expansion, fought the campaign on the issue of Brexit. Ms Olney polled 20,510 votes to Mr Goldsmith's 18,638.The Conservative Party, UK Independence Party and Green Party did not field candidates." [x]
Zac was :(
A notably subdued Goldsmith thanked his team and insisted: “This byelection was not a political calculation. It was a promise that I made and it was a promise that I kept.” [x]
As was the Mogg:
Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg conceded the vote had been about Brexit as Richmond "was a very strong pro-Remain constituency". He praised Mr Goldsmith's "nobility" for keeping his word, but said it was a "real shame" that an independently minded person like him would no longer be in Parliament.[x]
The LibDems took it well, obviously:
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the result "was a remarkable, come-from-nowhere upset that will terrify the Conservatives", but he claimed it was also a rejection of "a hard Brexit". [x]
Speaking alongside Olney in the south-west London constituency on Friday morning, Farron was cautiously optimistic about the Lib Dems’ chances in a general election but said: “This result might change the direction of British politics. It’s about momentum.”
Olney, a local accountant who only became involved in politics a year ago, took to the stage at the announcement of her victory in the early hours of Friday to say that voters had “sent a shockwave through this Conservative Brexit government”.
[x]
Zac's brother Ben.. not so much
But let's stay positive
From the by-election
From October