Former mayoral runner Zac Goldsmith is heading back to the Commons after retaking the Richmond Park Westminster constituency at last night’s General Election.
Mr Goldsmith represented the seat from 2010 until quitting last December over the issue of expansion at Heathrow airport, forcing a by-election which he contested as an independent candidate.
That move backfired after Liberal Democrats capitalised on his support for Brexit, helping challenger Sarah Olney overturn his 23,015 vote majority to take the seat by 20,510 votes to 18,638.
Goldsmith’s loss came just seven months after his defeat to Sadiq Khan in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as Mayor and was widely celebrated by those who felt his City Hall campaign was racist, an accusation he always denied.
When Theresa May called a snap election seeking a mandate for Brexit, Goldsmith was selected by the local Tory party as their official candidate, a move some thought would aid LibDem efforts to retain the seat.
However in one of the most closest contests of the night, Goldmsith was declared the winner after three recounts, taking the seat by 28,588 to Olney’s 28,543 – a majority of just 45.
