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| Lib Dems oust Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park by-election | Lib Dems oust Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park by-election |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | But Lib Dem Sarah Olney, who is also opposed to Heathrow expansion, fought the campaign on the issue of Brexit. |
| She polled 20,510 votes to Mr Goldsmith's 18,638. | She polled 20,510 votes to Mr Goldsmith's 18,638. |
| The remaining six candidates, including Labour's Christian Wolmar, all lost their £500 deposits as they did not receive a big enough share of the vote. | The remaining six candidates, including Labour's Christian Wolmar, all lost their £500 deposits as they did not receive a big enough share of the vote. |
| The Conservative Party, UK Independence Party and Green Party did not field candidates. | The Conservative Party, UK Independence Party and Green Party did not field candidates. |
| As the new Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, Ms Olney will be the party's only female MP - joining eight male colleagues. | As the new Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, Ms Olney will be the party's only female MP - joining eight male colleagues. |
| She said the by-election result was a rejection of the "politics of anger and division". | She said the by-election result was a rejection of the "politics of anger and division". |
| She added: "The people of Richmond Park and North Kingston have sent a shockwave through this Conservative Brexit government, and our message is clear - we do not want a hard Brexit. | She added: "The people of Richmond Park and North Kingston have sent a shockwave through this Conservative Brexit government, and our message is clear - we do not want a hard Brexit. |
| "We do not want to be pulled out of the single market, and we will not let intolerance, division and fear win." | "We do not want to be pulled out of the single market, and we will not let intolerance, division and fear win." |
| Ten famous by-elections | |
| In pictures: By-elections since 2010 | |
| BBC London Live: By-election reaction | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "This was a remarkable, come-from-nowhere upset that will terrify the Conservatives. | |
| "A year and a half ago, their man won by nearly 40% and had a majority of more than 20,000. | |
| "In one fell swoop we have wiped that out completely." | |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent | By Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent |
| In a year of political upsets, another. | In a year of political upsets, another. |
| Sarah Olney joined the Liberal Democrats only 18 months ago. She now becomes the party's ninth MP. | Sarah Olney joined the Liberal Democrats only 18 months ago. She now becomes the party's ninth MP. |
| As soon as the polls closed last night, the width of Lib Dem smiles pointed to an extraordinary result. | As soon as the polls closed last night, the width of Lib Dem smiles pointed to an extraordinary result. |
| A party of government shrivelled to a rump at last year's general election had rediscovered its mojo in this rich, pro-European corner of south-west London. | A party of government shrivelled to a rump at last year's general election had rediscovered its mojo in this rich, pro-European corner of south-west London. |
| Zac Goldsmith had hoped this contest would be a referendum on the prospect of even more planes thundering through the skies here if Heathrow Airport gets bigger. | Zac Goldsmith had hoped this contest would be a referendum on the prospect of even more planes thundering through the skies here if Heathrow Airport gets bigger. |
| But, instead, it was June's EU referendum that dominated. | But, instead, it was June's EU referendum that dominated. |
| Seventy per cent of voters here backed Remain. But Zac Goldsmith didn't. The Liberal Democrats, unapologetically pro-EU, ruthlessly exploited this. | Seventy per cent of voters here backed Remain. But Zac Goldsmith didn't. The Liberal Democrats, unapologetically pro-EU, ruthlessly exploited this. |
| Sarah Olney told me she would vote against triggering Article 50 - the formal mechanism for starting Brexit. | Sarah Olney told me she would vote against triggering Article 50 - the formal mechanism for starting Brexit. |
| But the country voted Leave, even if this seat didn't, and the government will press on regardless. | But the country voted Leave, even if this seat didn't, and the government will press on regardless. |
| For Zac Goldsmith this was his second political humiliation of the year. | For Zac Goldsmith this was his second political humiliation of the year. |
| Beaten by Labour to be London Mayor, beaten by the Lib Dems in his own backyard. And leaving Theresa May's slender majority looking even thinner. | Beaten by Labour to be London Mayor, beaten by the Lib Dems in his own backyard. And leaving Theresa May's slender majority looking even thinner. |
| Who is Sarah Olney? | Who is Sarah Olney? |
| A relative newcomer to politics, Sarah Olney said she was compelled to join the Liberal Democrats after the 2015 general election. | A relative newcomer to politics, Sarah Olney said she was compelled to join the Liberal Democrats after the 2015 general election. |
| In her victory speech, she said: "A year and a half ago I wasn't involved in politics, I wasn't a member of a political party, I had never been involved in a political campaign, I had never thought about being a politician. | In her victory speech, she said: "A year and a half ago I wasn't involved in politics, I wasn't a member of a political party, I had never been involved in a political campaign, I had never thought about being a politician. |
| "But I knew I was a liberal. | "But I knew I was a liberal. |
| "When I saw what happened in the general election last year I felt I had to get involved." | "When I saw what happened in the general election last year I felt I had to get involved." |
| Ms Olney, who lives in North Kingston with her husband Ben and two children, works as a qualified accountant at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. | Ms Olney, who lives in North Kingston with her husband Ben and two children, works as a qualified accountant at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. |
| The south-west London constituency - which encompasses Richmond, North Kingston and New Malden - voted by a large majority for Remain in the EU referendum on 23 June. | The south-west London constituency - which encompasses Richmond, North Kingston and New Malden - voted by a large majority for Remain in the EU referendum on 23 June. |
| Mr Goldsmith, who campaigned for Leave in the referendum, quit as the Tory MP for the constituency in October so he could fight a by-election as an independent on an anti-Heathrow Airport expansion ticket. | Mr Goldsmith, who campaigned for Leave in the referendum, quit as the Tory MP for the constituency in October so he could fight a by-election as an independent on an anti-Heathrow Airport expansion ticket. |
| At the time, the Conservatives said they "disagreed" with Mr Goldsmith's decision but would not field a candidate against him. | At the time, the Conservatives said they "disagreed" with Mr Goldsmith's decision but would not field a candidate against him. |
| After his by-election defeat was announced, Mr Goldsmith said: "This by-election was not a political calculation. | After his by-election defeat was announced, Mr Goldsmith said: "This by-election was not a political calculation. |
| "It was a promise that I made and it was a promise that I kept. | "It was a promise that I made and it was a promise that I kept. |
| "I wish Sarah well in her very, very important job and I hope she serves this community as well as this community deserves." | "I wish Sarah well in her very, very important job and I hope she serves this community as well as this community deserves." |
| It was the second political defeat for Mr Goldsmith this year, who was beaten by Labour's Sadiq Khan in the London mayoral election. | It was the second political defeat for Mr Goldsmith this year, who was beaten by Labour's Sadiq Khan in the London mayoral election. |
| A Conservative Party spokesman said the result would make no difference to Brexit plans. | A Conservative Party spokesman said the result would make no difference to Brexit plans. |
| He said: "This result doesn't change anything. | He said: "This result doesn't change anything. |
| "The government remains committed to leaving the European Union and triggering Article 50 by the end of March next year. | "The government remains committed to leaving the European Union and triggering Article 50 by the end of March next year. |
| Full result: | Full result: |
| Turnout = 53.6% | Turnout = 53.6% |
| Ms Olney was elected with a majority of 1,872 votes, compared to a Conservative Party majority of 23,015 at the 2015 General Election. | Ms Olney was elected with a majority of 1,872 votes, compared to a Conservative Party majority of 23,015 at the 2015 General Election. |