General election 2010: Zac Goldsmith wins top Tory target Richmond Park from the Lib Dems
By Marina Kim
Zac Goldsmith has elegantly won the key Tory seat of Richmond Park after an election night count as close as the campaign which preceded it.
Tory Mr Goldsmith won with 29,461 votes (49.7%) as the result was finally announced shortly before 06:00 BST. Former Lib Dem MP Susan Kramer lost with 25,370 votes (42.8%) in a seven per cent swing.
Richmond Park is an affluent and middle class constituency with some of the highest property prices in London. Many of its residents work at well-paid jobs in central London.
It was a difficult campaign for Susan Kramer with allegations of “dirty” politics by her Conservative opponent. The main elections issues were Kingston hospital, parking charges at Richmond Park and Heathrow expansion.
