Richmond Park election result: Tory Brexiteer Zac Goldsmith thrashed by Lib Dems

Brexiteer former mayoral candidate sacked by voters

Former Tory London mayor candidate Zac Goldsmith has lost his seat in Richmond Park, south west London.

The anti-Heathrow campaigner and Brexiteer was ousted by the Liberal Democrats‘ Sarah Olney.

Mr Goldsmith previously lost his seat at a by-election triggered by his resignation over airport expansion, but regained it at the 2017 general election.

This time he lost convincingly by 53.1 per cent to 41.2 per cent – in what was previously a tight marginal seat.

The gain for the liberals is a rare positive on a dark night for the party.

Early results suggested that Jo Swinson appears to have been ousted in East Dunbartonshire, while high-profile defector Chuka Umunna failed to be elected in his central London target seat.

Mr Goldsmith was Tory candidate in the 2016 London mayoral election, losing to Sadiq Khan. Mr Goldsmith was highly criticised for the tone and content of his campaign, which was branded racist for its treatment of Sadiq Khan.