Zac Goldsmith accused of Heathrow 'tantrum' by Tory MP's ex-wife taking him on in Richmond by-election

Accused: Zac Goldsmith
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images
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Zac Goldsmith today came under a scathing attack from the former wife of a Tory MP as she announced plans to stand against him in the Richmond Park by-election.

Activist Fiona Syms, 47, accused the anti-runways campaigner of throwing a “tantrum” over Heathrow, and of “abandoning” Conservative voters by quitting his seat and forcing a contest.

She declared she will stand against him as an independent conservative if enough local people support her.

“I don’t think it’s honourable risking losing this beautiful constituency,” she said in a “manifesto” published on social media.

“Zac Goldsmith has treated it like a game of poker. He failed to win the Heathrow battle in office and has abandoned more than 34,000 Tory voters, to say nothing of his colleagues in the Conservative parliamentary party.

Scathing attack: Fiona Syms

“What on earth is achieved by forcing a by-election? It’s just a rather large tantrum from a rich man who will now have less sway with government ministers if re-elected.”

Ms Syms was married to Poole MP Robert Syms for 18 years and says she has 25 years experience of politics as a speechwriter, organiser and constituency worker.

Although she describes herself as a “dyed-in-the-wool” Tory who would apply for the party whip if elected, she is not currently a party member.

In a bid to garner the 10 signatures required from local constituents, she appealed on Twitter for supporters to meet her at a local rail station and sign her nomination papers.

Today Nick Clegg launched the campaign of Mr Goldsmith’s chief rival for the seat, Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney, a local accountant.

He accused Mr Goldsmith of being irrelevant in government discussions on Heathrow. “If he were to be re-elected as an independent he would simply become even less influential,” said Mr Clegg.

Ms Olney, who also opposes Heathrow expansion, said her campaign “against a Hard Brexit” was chiming with voters in the constituency, which voted Remain in June. The by-election is on December 1.@JoeMurphyLondon

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