The Tories’ newly-selected London Mayoral candidate, Susan Hall, has triumphantly hailed the Conservatives’ surprise victory in Uxbridge.
Ms Hall twisted the knife shortly after Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner warned the London mayor that he must listen to the concerns of Londoners about the ULEZ expansion.
Ms Hall told the Express: “Congratulations to Steve Tuckwell, who is an outstanding local champion and will be a fantastic MP.
“The message from Uxbridge and South Ruislip residents is loud and clear: Sadiq Khan and his disastrous ULEZ expansion have got to go.
“Next May, voters can make that happen and choose a better, brighter future for our city.”
Ms Hall was selected by Tory London members earlier this week, beating rival Moz Hossain by 57 percent to 43 percent.
Sadiq Khan’s office has already distanced themselves from the disastrous result, telling the Telegraph: “Winning Uxbridge and South Ruislip was always going to be a struggle for Labour”.
“Labour hasn’t won this seat for five decades and Tony Blair didn’t even win it during the 1997 landslide.”
Mr Khan didn’t show his face in the outer London seat throughout the campaign, over Labour fears his ULEZ expansion could cost them the seat.
Despite a 6.7 point swing, Labour failed to take the seat, despite it having by far the smallest majority of all three constituencies holding by-elections last night.
Speaking after his victory, the new Uxbridge MP Steve Tuckwell said Sadiq Khan had lost Labour the election.
He said: “Sadiq Khan has lost Labour this election, and we know it was his damaging and costly ULEZ policy that lost them this election.
“I am humbled and proud to be elected as the MP for the area in which I was born, raised and built a family in, and to represent my home is a huge honour.
“The pundits expected Labour to win big here, but our community came together and I am thankful to them and the hundreds of activists that came out to deliver this message.
“Keir Starmer and his mayor, Sadiq Khan, need to sit up and listen to the Uxbridge and South Ruislip residents.”
