A Camden councillor who took on Boris Johnson's old seat has lost the by-election - with the Mayor's Ulez expansion blamed for the narrow defeat.
Cllr Danny Beales returned to the town where he was born to stand in Uxbridge & South Ruislip hoping to bring Labour victory, but lost by 495 votes.
Conservative Steve Tuckwell received 13,965 votes to Cllr Beales’ 13,470 in a surprise win for the Conservatives.
A polls closed, Cllr Beales tweeted: A massive thank you to every single person who volunteered their time as part of our campaign. I’m incredibly proud of what we have all achieved. Without your support none of it would have been possible."
The polls are officially closed in Uxbridge & South Ruislip!
— Danny Beales 🇺🇦🇬🇧 (@DannyBeales) July 20, 2023
A massive thank you to every single person who volunteered their time as part of our campaign.
I’m incredibly proud of what we have all achieved. Without your support none of it would have been possible.
Thank you. pic.twitter.com/KIzGNpE7Ue
The Labour Party cited Mayor of London Sadiq Khan's planned widening of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to the capital’s suburbs as responsible for the loss.
If it goes ahead, it would mean motorists in all London boroughs would be charged £12.50 a day from August 29 if their vehicles do not meet the required emissions standards. The zone currently extends to the north and south circular roads.
Labour frontbencher Steve Reed pinpointed Sadiq Khan's scheme as a significant factor behind its failure to win in Uxbridge.
Born at in Hillingdon in 1988 and educated in Ruislip, Cllr Beales went against his party to campaign against Ulez expansion.
He told a hustings on July 6: “It’s not the right time to extend the Ulez scheme to outer London, it’s just not.”
Speaking after the results were announced from the count at Queensmead Sports Centre, shadow justice secretary Mr Reed told the PA news agency: “I think the winning Conservative candidate just said it, didn’t he? He said that if it wasn’t for Ulez, he believes Labour would have won this by-election.
“Clearly, it did resonate with a lot of people. They didn’t like the fact that Ulez was going to cost people more to drive around at a time when there’s a cost-of-living crisis going on. That’s exactly what Danny Beales was saying all the way through the campaign.
“But I think when the voters speak, any party that seeks to govern has to listen. So that’s what Labour will be doing after this.”
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner also blamed Ulez for the failure to snatch the seat.
She told BBC Breakfast: “I think one of the things we have to reflect on today is not only the mood against the Tories, but also the decision in Uxbridge was related to Ulez.
“The Uxbridge result shows that when you don’t listen to the voters, you don’t win elections.”
Cllr Beales has been contacted.
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