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Brexit controversy ousts Tories from safe seat: Lib Dem newcomer Sarah Olney wins by election
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron claims his party is “back in the big time” after it fought on the issue of Brexit to oust ex-Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith in the Richmond Park by-election. Lib Dem challenger Sarah Olney overturned Goldsmith's 23,015 majority to finish 1,872 votes ahead. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesLib Dem leader Tim Farron claims his party is “back in the big time”
Dec 03rd, 2016 - 04:11 pm - Link - Report abuse +1By Big Time do you mean 9 MP's...
Compared to the...328 Cons
231 Labs....
WTF were the Conservatives doing by not contesting the election with a Conservative delegate?
Dec 03rd, 2016 - 08:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Goldsmith is a loser, even his rich mates knew that.
The yellow peril strikes back.
Dec 03rd, 2016 - 08:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ ChrisR
Dec 04th, 2016 - 12:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0They didn't want to have their candidate beaten by Goldsmith, and they didn't want to split the vote and let someone else win. Very logical, but as it happens, wrong. If Goldsmith had been reelected, he'd have supported the government on most issues, and they only have a small majority.
@ DT
Dec 04th, 2016 - 10:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks for that, I had not been following the by-election, thinking that Conservative H.Q. would have it covered .
May needs to get a grip on this bunch or go and let somebody who can make decisions take over.
@ ChrisR
Dec 04th, 2016 - 12:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well, the whole thing was started by her actually making a decision: to allow a third runway to be built at Heathrow. Unfortunately whatever decision you make, someone is going to object and the Conservatives were pretty divided on this one.
The by-election was fought on two issues, the runway and Brexit. But Olney promised to oppose the runway as well as oppose Brexit, which I guess put her ahead of Goldsmith who had campaigned for Leave. It's a very pro-Europe area, apparently.
Do you think Sarah Olney will agree to a second bi-election if Mr Goldsmith decides he doesn't like the result?
Dec 04th, 2016 - 03:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ James Marshall
Dec 04th, 2016 - 05:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0No. But I'm sure she won't object to a recount that's what he wants.
You know that petition was created by a Leave voter right?
Liberals they may be,
Dec 04th, 2016 - 08:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0but democratic they are not.
As stated by Andrew Neil today when he spoke to nick clegg.
DT i was referring to this.....
Dec 04th, 2016 - 10:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/02/lib-dems-new-mp-sarah-olney-dragged-off-air-brexit-grilling/
@JM
Dec 05th, 2016 - 08:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Oh right, I hadn't seen that. That was a very poor performance! And the correct answer is that they will have another election in 2020 if they don't like the result of this one.
DT I think she just found out how not to be interviewed, poor girl 5 mins in the job and she already has to learn some hard lessons.
Dec 05th, 2016 - 06:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Of course that is the correct answer, but Ms Hartley-Brewer was taking the pi** some what in pointing out her hipocracy. She wants another referendum on brexit proposals because she didn't like the first result. A little tongue in cheek, I think.
@ James Marshall
Dec 05th, 2016 - 10:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yeah, she did say she only joined the party in 2015. Poor woman is probably getting remedial media training right now.
I heard they wanted a referendum on the terms of Brexit, but I don't see how that could work, since the EU won't negotiate until article 50 is triggered and after that it's too late.
And until then the government can't promise anything at all, as the rest of the EU has to agree to any other arrangement.
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