Tories Wn't Fight By-Election

[Gromit]

The Conservatives will not field a candidate in the Conservative held Richmond Park by-Election.
The contest was triggered when the sitting MP, Zac Goldsmith resigned over Heathrow airports expansion.
Mr Goldsmith will fight the seat as an independent.

Anyone else think this is all farcical? As pointless as Labour's leadership election. Zac Goldsmith seems to be trying to make a moral stand. But it is a bit pathetic. If he is ele ted, he will still support the Conservatives, who will still press ahead with Heathrow.
It's all a load of posturing nonsense, everyone agree?

[mikey4444]

Zac said that he would resign his seat, if the Government announced that there was to be a 3rd runway at Heathrow.

Well, they have and he did ! You can't fault his reasoning here, and I think we should applaud his honesty. Would that Boris was as honest ! I am still waiting for that wonderful photo opportunity that would be "Boris and the Bulldozers".

As the Tories have now said that they won't fight his seat ( very odd thing, that ! ) its up to the Libdems to try to beat Zac. The seat is far from being a safe Tory-ish seat, as it was won by the Libdems many times over the last years, in 1997, 2001, and 2005, and only narrowly missed in 2010. I think that the Libdems could well manage again this year.

So, let battle commence !

[naomi24]

He's doing what he said he'll do. This isn't a general election so as far as the Conservatives are concerned it's a temporary blip. He can call himself what he likes but he's a Conservative and he'll return to the fold the next time. He'll win.

[bhg481]

I don't see anything odd about the Tories not contesting the seat. Zacs is a Tory in all but one topic so if he's returned they still have, in effect, a Tory in parliament. If they contest the seat it increases the chance of the seat being won by another party.

[youngmafbog]

Yep. and that is exactly it.

If they field a candidate then the 'Tory' vote will be split and the LibDems will walk it.

[mikey4444]

Yes, very true I suppose. Mrs May is playing a very dangerous game though.

[ichkeria]

If all he wanted to do was resign his seat he could have merely stood as a Conservative "anti-Heathrow" candidate. Like the Ulster Unionist MPs who resigned their seats in protest at the Ango-Irish agreement in 1985. And used the election as a "referendum" - albeit a pointless one. It isn't as if he's a member of the government.
Intriguingly, this constituency, unlike John McDonnell's for example, is not right in the runway development area, but it IS a big "Pro-remain" constituency ...
And the Lib Dems are, well, not a exactly Brexiteering party
Looks like the "second referendum" may be happening early :-)

[mikey4444]

What was that strange word that the previous female incumbent of Number Ten used ?.....I seem to recall it was "frit"

[ichkeria]

I suspect all this was arranged in advance. "I stand down, but you won't oppose me". The announcement that the Tories would not field a candidate came very quickly after Goldsmith's resignation.
For all we know it might have been the reason for the delay in the Heathrow announcement in the first place.

[ichkeria]

You were watching the Channel 4 News as well I see Mikey :-)
Frit of Farron - who'd have thunk it. But very wise, if you ask me ...

[weecalf]

Why is he doing this ,costing fortunes to have a election .Resign means walk away in my book .Is he walking away nah .

[ichkeria]

No, in fairness, I do admire him for what he is doing. We will, probably, get re-elected, but there is a chance he won't. Who would predict elections these days ...

[ichkeria]

"He" will (!)

[Gromit]

Like the Labour Leadership election, it seems like an awful lot of trouble to stand still and not change anything.

[ichkeria]

It won't change the Heathrow decision, but I am sure Mr Goldsmith knows that. Leave that to the Shadow Chancellor and his campaigning constituents :-)

[EDDIE51]

Pity The Prime Minister didn't have as much integrity and resign rather than do a full U turn to approve the 3rd runway !!
Funny how the speech she made just 6 years ago where she said the idea of a 3rd runway was 'flawed' and approving it would be 'horrendous ' has now been removed from her web page !!

[ichkeria]

Believe me Eddie that won't be the only thing we'll be picking the PM up on in a few years time!

[EDDIE51]

^^ I'm with you on that !!

[ToraToraTora]

oh dear how little the left understand politics. When he wins the seat back as an independent he'll give it a year and rejoin the Tories, sorted!

[ichkeria]

Of course he will, IF he wins. And - by prior arrangement I am sure - the chances of that are maximised So while there is an element of nobility about it, which I applaud, it does have a slightly choreographer air to it.
BUT, luckily, in this country, elections themselves cannot be choreographed ...
So if the Lib Dems put up a nice, virulently anti-Heathrow, candidate, who knows. When it all comes down to it, the word "Conservative" won't be on the ballot paper (presumably: if he stands as "independent conservative" then I agree: it's pointless!)

[Gromit]

It now looks like Labour will not field a candidate, leaving the LibDems an open field.
Conservative voters might be miffed that they are forced to go through all this so soon after a general election - so they might not bother.
The Conservatives supporting Heathrow AND an anti Brexit constituency might bring out protest voters.
So it might not be the stitch up it at first seemed.

Might.