Bob Geldof attacks his old friend Zac Goldsmith as he backs Lib Dem rival in Richmond claiming by-election is start of ‘fightback’ against ‘catastrophic’ Brexit

SINGER Bob Geldof has said he will back Zac Goldsmith’s Liberal Democrat rival Sarah Olney in tomorrow’s Richmond Park by-election.

The Irish songwriter and activist appeared at a campaign event with the candidate today where he told crowds “Zac is crap!”

He attacked the former Tory MP for being the “poster-boy” for the Leave campaign and said he was a “political failure”.

“I know Zac Goldsmith and I like the guy, but the plain fact is that Zac is a political failure,” he said today.

“How can Goldsmith represent the opinion of the people of Richmond in Parliament when he is the poster-boy for the Brexiteers and is urging the Government daily on its catastrophic course?” he added.

He urged Richmond Park voters to vote for the Liberal Democrat candidate, Sarah Olney instead.

“The fightback can begin in Richmond tomorrow; Zac has to go,” he said.

The by-election was triggered by Mr Goldsmith when he resigned his seat after the Government announced it would back the expansion of Heathrow airport.

The endorsement came hours after it was revealed that the former Tory had to change his trousers before a hustings after he ripped his trousers on his own car in a bizarre accident.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said of Mr Geldof’s endorsement: “I’m grateful to Bob Geldof for standing up for pro-European voices at a time when our country needs them more than ever.

“We’re both backing Sarah Olney to win tomorrow to send a shockwave through Downing Street and turn the tide on a reckless hard Brexit.”