Steve Tuckwell claims victory in Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat with a resounding message for Mayor Sadiq Khan
In an unexpected turn of events, Conservative candidate Steve Tuckwell emerged as the newly-elected Member of Parliament for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, winning by a narrow margin of just 495 votes. The victory was celebrated by Tuckwell and his supporters in a strongly-worded victory speech delivered overnight.
The controversial issue at the forefront of this election was the upcoming Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion, set to be implemented at the end of August. Mr. Tuckwell credited his success to the discontent among the constituents over the ULEZ expansion and boldly declared that their voices would no longer be ignored.
Initially, polling data had indicated that Labour and their candidate, Camden councillor Danny Beales, were expected to secure victory. However, Tuckwell defied expectations, garnering 13,965 votes against Beales’ 13,470. Speaking on BBC Breakfast the morning after the election, deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner acknowledged that the ULEZ had played a significant role in the outcome of the election. She recognized the consequences of not listening to the voters, stating that it was a lesson for her party and all political parties to reflect on in future elections.
Furthermore, in his victory speech, Steve Tuckwell expressed gratitude to his supporters and hundreds of activists who came together to deliver a powerful message to the Labour Party. He claimed that Sadiq Khan, the Labour London Mayor, was responsible for losing the election, as the ULEZ expansion issue had created a divide among the constituents.
Although the unexpected win in Uxbridge and South Ruislip sends a clear message to political leaders that addressing the concerns of the people is paramount to secure electoral success. As Steve Tuckwell prepares to represent his constituents in Parliament, the repercussions of this election are likely to echo across the political landscape, leaving all parties with a valuable lesson to ponder upon.