Richmond Park by-election.
Discussion
Looks like this will be a three way fight between Goldsmith, the Lib Dems and the Tories unless of course the latter decide not to put up a candidate.
Goldsmith will be hoping he runs this campaign better than he did his disastrous mayoral one.
Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith has resigned, forcing a by-election in his constituency in a protest against the government's backing for a new runway at Heathrow Airport.
Goldsmith will be hoping he runs this campaign better than he did his disastrous mayoral one.
Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith has resigned, forcing a by-election in his constituency in a protest against the government's backing for a new runway at Heathrow Airport.
Beeb said:
Mr Goldsmith, who called the Heathrow decision "catastrophic", is expected to run as an independent candidate.
The last few elections:PurpleMoonlight said:
How much money does a by-election cost the taxpayer to service this guys ego?
What's it got to do with an ego?The Guy doesn't agree with the decision, he's been firmly against Heathrow expanding for many years,he's an environmentalist,he recognises the devastation this will inflict on those who elected him, and he's threatened to resign over the issue for as many years as he's campaigned against it.
It's nothing to do with an ego, more showing a conviction, demonstrating such a conviction, and acting on it by resigning.
Jimboka said:
A good opportunity for LDs to give them a kicking over Brexit..
Do STFU you cretin. If the LD's win, and they might well as the seat used to be a stronghold of theirs, it will purely be down to locals whining about the runway. Which drowns out the noise of the planes they "suffer" from and almost, but not quite, your incessant blubbing on the referendum you tool.
I can't see Goldsmith winning as an independent. I'm not convinced he's personally that popular. But stranger things have happened.
The LDs will need to chuck money at it, and try and find a half decent candidate though.
He's resigned but the tories won't field a candidate against him? They know that he will vote with the government for pretty much everything else so why risk splitting their vote.
For him, it sounds like a bit of a onvenient way to say how honourable he's being while knowing that he will likely keep his seat and all the perks that go with it.
I agree it does feel a bit like an ego thing for him at the taxpayer's expense so I hope he/they lose.
For him, it sounds like a bit of a onvenient way to say how honourable he's being while knowing that he will likely keep his seat and all the perks that go with it.
I agree it does feel a bit like an ego thing for him at the taxpayer's expense so I hope he/they lose.
If my sources(*) are correct its going to be a UkiP win, based on Zak Goldsmith changing party and becoming the new leader of UKiP and standing for re-election as the Ukip candidate for Richmond.
If you lived or worked in Richmond you'd know how crazy adding another runway to Heathrow is going to be, as it is there seems to be a plane overhead every 60 seconds or so and everyone knows how bad traffic is all round West London, it will be even worse with an extra runway at H/R.
If you lived or worked in Richmond you'd know how crazy adding another runway to Heathrow is going to be, as it is there seems to be a plane overhead every 60 seconds or so and everyone knows how bad traffic is all round West London, it will be even worse with an extra runway at H/R.
don'tbesilly said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
How much money does a by-election cost the taxpayer to service this guys ego?
What's it got to do with an ego?The Guy doesn't agree with the decision, he's been firmly against Heathrow expanding for many years,he's an environmentalist,he recognises the devastation this will inflict on those who elected him, and he's threatened to resign over the issue for as many years as he's campaigned against it.
It's nothing to do with an ego, more showing a conviction, demonstrating such a conviction, and acting on it by resigning.
He is standing for election as an independent and should win comfortably.
He could do the same thing by simply resigning the whip, but oh no, that would be far less dramatic.
He would much rather waste a lot of time and money, mostly other people's.
Tosser.
Murph7355 said:
Jimboka said:
A good opportunity for LDs to give them a kicking over Brexit..
Do STFU you cretin. If the LD's win, and they might well as the seat used to be a stronghold of theirs, it will purely be down to locals whining about the runway. Which drowns out the noise of the planes they "suffer" from and almost, but not quite, your incessant blubbing on the referendum you tool.
I can't see Goldsmith winning as an independent. I'm not convinced he's personally that popular. But stranger things have happened.
The LDs will need to chuck money at it, and try and find a half decent candidate though.
Peculiar.
Ayahuasca said:
don'tbesilly said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
How much money does a by-election cost the taxpayer to service this guys ego?
What's it got to do with an ego?The Guy doesn't agree with the decision, he's been firmly against Heathrow expanding for many years,he's an environmentalist,he recognises the devastation this will inflict on those who elected him, and he's threatened to resign over the issue for as many years as he's campaigned against it.
It's nothing to do with an ego, more showing a conviction, demonstrating such a conviction, and acting on it by resigning.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37764269
What part of the above are you struggling with?
As an independent he won't be standing as a Conservative MP, and him winning as an independent is far from as certain as you suggest.
Murph7355 said:
Jimboka said:
A good opportunity for LDs to give them a kicking over Brexit..
Do STFU you cretin. If the LD's win, and they might well as the seat used to be a stronghold of theirs, it will purely be down to locals whining about the runway. Which drowns out the noise of the planes they "suffer" from and almost, but not quite, your incessant blubbing on the referendum you tool.
I can't see Goldsmith winning as an independent. I'm not convinced he's personally that popular. But stranger things have happened.
The LDs will need to chuck money at it, and try and find a half decent candidate though.
dbdb said:
Wow, that's an aggressive response. Both Zac Goldsmith and the Liberal democrats oppose Heathrow expansion, so there is not much to choose from them on that issue afaik. As a constituency, the majority voted to remain in the EU - whilst Mr Goldsmith supported leaving, so Jimboka's suggestion is not a ridiculous one. Whether it makes any difference we shall see.
You need to read some of his responses to various referendum oriented (even tangentially) threads. His attitude is both boring and ridiculous. Your definition of "aggressive" must also differ significantly from mine.As I noted, Goldsmith's personal reputation in the area isn't great. And the constituency was very yellow previously. Unless someone adds to the ballot paper "was this because of Brexit" we (Jimboka excepted as everything is Brexit's fault in his mind) will never know.
So let's think this through.
Goldsmith opposes Heathrow expansion, so do the LDs. I don't think Labour are too keen either. So whoever wins the new MP will be opposed to Heathrow expansion.
His constituency did not vote for Brexit. He did. I don't think the LDs are too keen on Brexit either.
The constituency was held by the LDs for some time before 2010.
I have a feeling the LDs will have another seat after this by-election and Mr Goldsmith will need to find something else to do. Perhaps he could lie in front of the bulldozers now that Boris seems to be winding back on that idea...
Goldsmith opposes Heathrow expansion, so do the LDs. I don't think Labour are too keen either. So whoever wins the new MP will be opposed to Heathrow expansion.
His constituency did not vote for Brexit. He did. I don't think the LDs are too keen on Brexit either.
The constituency was held by the LDs for some time before 2010.
I have a feeling the LDs will have another seat after this by-election and Mr Goldsmith will need to find something else to do. Perhaps he could lie in front of the bulldozers now that Boris seems to be winding back on that idea...
Welshbeef said:
Torys are not going to stand.
So what you'll have are 3 candidates all anti 3rd runway... kind of pointless
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/zac-goldsmith-conservatives-vow-not-to-field-candidate-in-richmond-park-byelection-after-mp-quits-a3378666.htmlSo what you'll have are 3 candidates all anti 3rd runway... kind of pointless
Yes probably a wise decision really as they would have potentially handed the seat to the lib Dems.
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