Labour MPs speak out after shock demise of Zac Goldsmith

Figures from across the Labour Party have described the defeat of Zac Goldsmith in the Brexit by-election as a vote against intolerance and “slurs” after the former Tory lost his seat to the Lib Dems.

Christian Wolmar, Labour’s candidate in Richmond, said on twitter: “By rejecting Zac the voters have rejected Brexit and his nasty divisive mayoral campaign”. He was keen to congratulate the new MP Sarah Olney, but caution her that she had been “lent” Labour votes – and that she should “look after them”.

Jonathan Reynolds, who alongside Lisa Nandy and Clive Lewis had called for Labour to not stand and instead throw our backing behind Olney, welcomed the newest MP on twitter:

Congratulations @sarahjolney1

— Jonathan Reynolds MP (@jreynoldsMP) December 2, 2016

Nandy, MP for Wigan, said on twitter “thank you to everyone in Richmond Park who turned out against hatred, intolerance and racism yesterday”.

Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips was keen to stress that the result wouldn’t change the realities of Heathrow and Brexit.

Karl Turner, MP for Hull East, said on twitter that: “Zac Goldsmith was filthy in the London Mayor election to allow savage, personal and racist attacks on Sadiq Khan. Deserves to lose now!”

If you want to catch up with the by-election result as it happened, you can do so here.