AFP, London :
Prime Minister Theresa May’s government suffered a rebuke over its plans to pull Britain out of the EU on Friday after voters in the London suburb of Richmond ousted a eurosceptic lawmaker in favour of a pro-European candidate.
In a stunning upset, Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney overturned a large majority to defeat Zac Goldsmith, who had held the seat for May’s Conservative party since 2010, in a battle that became a mini-referendum on Brexit.
“Our message is clear: we do not want a hard Brexit,” Olney said as she became her party’s ninth MP with 49.68 percent of the vote, compared to 45.15 percent for Goldsmith.
“We do not want to be pulled out of the single market, and we will not let intolerance, division and fear win.”
Goldsmith had resigned in protest at the government’s decision to back a new runway at London’s Heathrow airport, prompting a by-election in which he stood as an independent, although with Conservative support.
The Lib Dems, who had previously held the seat, sensed an opportunity to win it back by focusing on Goldsmith’s support for Brexit, which was at odds with most of his constituents.
Flooding the area with campaigners, they highlighted their demands for Britain to stay in the single market and for a second referendum on the final terms of Brexit.
“That message has been resoundingly backed by the people of Richmond Park,” said party leader Tim Farron.
Prime Minister Theresa May’s government suffered a rebuke over its plans to pull Britain out of the EU on Friday after voters in the London suburb of Richmond ousted a eurosceptic lawmaker in favour of a pro-European candidate.
In a stunning upset, Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney overturned a large majority to defeat Zac Goldsmith, who had held the seat for May’s Conservative party since 2010, in a battle that became a mini-referendum on Brexit.
“Our message is clear: we do not want a hard Brexit,” Olney said as she became her party’s ninth MP with 49.68 percent of the vote, compared to 45.15 percent for Goldsmith.
“We do not want to be pulled out of the single market, and we will not let intolerance, division and fear win.”
Goldsmith had resigned in protest at the government’s decision to back a new runway at London’s Heathrow airport, prompting a by-election in which he stood as an independent, although with Conservative support.
The Lib Dems, who had previously held the seat, sensed an opportunity to win it back by focusing on Goldsmith’s support for Brexit, which was at odds with most of his constituents.
Flooding the area with campaigners, they highlighted their demands for Britain to stay in the single market and for a second referendum on the final terms of Brexit.
“That message has been resoundingly backed by the people of Richmond Park,” said party leader Tim Farron.
