Zac Goldsmith hopes to see off Lib Dems as polls open in Richmond by-election he triggered over Heathrow expansion
Former Tory goes head to head with Sarah Olney in the leafy South West London suburb today
THE FORMER Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith hopes to see off a strong Liberal Democrat challenge as the polls open in the Richmond by-election he triggered over Heathrow expansion.
The former Tory London mayoral contender, who is standing as an independent, is going head to head with Sarah Olney in the leafy South West London suburb.
The polls are open in the contest, which the Lib Dems have poured resources into, which they believe gives voters a chance to deliver a verdict on Brexit.
In the final hours of campaigning, the party hit the streets with Bob Geldof, who attacked Mr Goldsmith, an old friend, for being a failure and chanted "Zac is crap" while posing for pictures.
The singer joined Ms Olney, an accountant working at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, who joined the party in May 2015, to chat to voters.
Mr Goldsmith aims to retain the parliamentary seat he quit in protest over the green light for a third runway at the nearby airport last month.
Neither the Tories nor Ukip is fielding candidates to stand against the 41-year-old, who secured a 23,000 majority from the 2015 general election.
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Some Labour MPs urged their party to avoid contesting the by-election to give the Lib Dems a better chance of winning, but writer, broadcaster and railway historian Christian Wolmar is representing the party.
The Greens, who called for a ''progressive alliance'' against Mr Goldsmith, are not fielding a candidate.
Last night Mr Geldof suggested that Leave supporters appear to be on "crystal meth" as he campaigned in Richmond yesterday afternoon.
The former Boomtown Rats frontman insisted today’s vote is the start of a "fightback" following the vote to quit the European Union.
An avid anti-Brexit activist, he clashed with Nigel Farage during a bizarre confrontation on the river Thames during the referendum campaign.
He said he respected the verdict returned by voters on June 23 but argued Remain supporters must be heard, adding: "We lost the battle but really the war hasn't begun.”