Richmond Park General Election candidates explain stances on issues from vacant shops to sewage and schools

Candidates standing to be the next MP for Richmond Park have had their say on issues that matter to voters, including Hammersmith Bridge, sewage spills in the River Thames and the Israel-Gaza war. Prospective MPs for the constituency, which includes areas in Richmond and Kingston, faced questions from a packed audience of students and residents at a hustings on Monday evening (June 11).

Sarah Olney, who was elected as Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park in 2019, took part in the hustings at Grey Court School, in Ham, along with the Conservatives' Sara Gezdari, Labour's Laura Coryton and the Greens' Chas Warlow. The Social Democratic Party's Richard Harrison, Reform UK's Michael Hearn and Chris French of The Mitre TW9 are also listed as candidates for Richmond Park in the general election on July 4.

The candidates introduced themselves to the audience ahead of a question and answer session. Ms Olney said she would hold the new government to account on climate change, mental health and social care. Opposing Thames Water's plans to build a tunnel under nature reserve Ham Lands to pump treated sewage into the River Thames, calling for a new police station in Richmond and urging Hammersmith Bridge to be reopened are among the local issues she said she has worked hard on since being elected.

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Ms Gezdari, who fled Albania in the 1997 civil war, said she would make Richmond Park's streets safer, champion education, protect green spaces, boost local businesses and improve transport links. Above all, she added, she would listen to residents.

Ms Coryton, who was awarded an MBE this year for her campaign to end the 'tampon tax', said she would champion Labour's pledges to bring back family doctors and improve the NHS, set up mental health hubs in every community and introduce free breakfast clubs in all primary schools. She urged residents to 'vote for change'.

Mr Warlow, a local councillor for South Richmond, said the Greens would fight for 'clean air, clean water, better and more affordable housing, [a] better-funded NHS [and] more help for vulnerable people' by imposing a modest tax on the wealthiest in society. He said the party promises a 'hopeful vision'.

The candidates then answered questions from residents on local and national issues. Some of these are summarised below, in the order they were asked.

"There are currently eight vacant shops on Richmond High Street. How do you plan to support small businesses and boost the local economy in Richmond Park?"

Ms Olney said the Lib Dems would replace business rates with a land value tax and fight for a better trade deal with the EU to lift some restrictions imposed on businesses since Brexit. She said upward-only rent review clauses in commercial agreements should be banned to allow businesses to pay lower rents if market conditions decline.

Ms Gezdari called for more support for small businesses to become more competitive online. Ms Coryton said Labour would provide cash for small businesses to close skills gaps and improve workers' rights by, for instance, banning zero-hours contracts.

Mr Warlow said the government should give local councils more power to help small businesses and protect the 'independent shops that we like to see keeping the identity of Richmond town centre'.

"Sewage in the Thames is an increasing problem. There have been well-publicised local examples including Teddington Lock... what actions will you take to address the issue of sewage discharge into the Thames?"

Ms Olney said the Lib Dems would replace water regular Ofwat with a tougher independent regulator, reform water companies as public benefit companies and slap fines on water companies for sewage spills.

Ms Gezdari said the Conservative government had fitted 100 per cent of storm overflows in England with monitors, up from 7 per cent in 2010, introduced unlimited fines on water companies and asked them to invest £56billion in environmental projects. She said there is more to do and the party is committed to holding water companies to account.

Ms Coryton said Labour would set up Great British Energy, a new publicly-owned clean energy company, and guarantee cleaner rivers and severe fines for water companies which harm the environment.

Mr Warlow said the Greens would take water companies and regulator Ofwat into public ownership.

"Do you support the proposed construction of two new secondary schools in Kingston and Mortlake, despite the well-publicised national decline in birth rates, reports of potential school closures in South London due to falling pupil numbers and recent statements from Kingston and local councillors about ongoing decreases in school-age students?"

Ms Olney acknowledged residents' anxieties about the planned schools, but argued they will be needed in the long-term to address the 'blackhole of secondary school provision' in Richmond Park, which has three secondary schools compared to eight in Twickenham.

Ms Gezdari said she also understands residents' concerns but that new schools are needed in the constituency.

Ms Coryton said the proposed school in Mortlake is one of many concerns about the plans for the wider Stag Brewery site. She said Labour would recruit 6,500 new teachers, set up free breakfast clubs in all primary schools and introduce mental health hubs to improve education.

Mr Warlow said he is also 'very sceptical' about the proposed new school in Mortlake and that the plans for both schools should be revisited.

"What realistic chance is there of ever getting Hammersmith Bridge reopened [to motor traffic]?"

Ms Olney called for the new government to apply pressure to get the bridge reopened to motor traffic. She said it would 'take an awful lot of time to repair' to the standard required to carry traffic, but that this can be done.

Ms Gezdari said all political parties should unite to reopen the bridge. She added she had investigated whether Transport for London (TfL) could take over responsibility for the bridge to get it repaired.

Ms Coryton said she would prioritise fighting for the bridge to be reopened if elected. She said senior Labour figures have pledged to 'work hard' to make sure this happens.

Mr Warlow, however, argued against reopening the bridge to 'private, polluting traffic'. He called for the bridge to be reopened to some form of public transport instead.

"Young people are increasingly frustrated with our government's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. I, for one, stand as someone who has Jewish family, all of whom wholeheartedly disagree with the ongoing attacks on Gaza and the lack of a deal to release the hostages and secure peace in the region. Unfortunately, figures have shown that Islamophobia and antisemitism have risen as a result. How do you wish to combat this?"

Ms Olney said the Lib Dems are calling for an immediate bilateral ceasefire in Gaza and want to use this to build 'lasting peace through a two-state solution'. She called for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, an immediate recognition of the state of Palestine and for the UK government to end arms sales to Israel.

Ms Gezdari said she knows firsthand what it means to flee a war-torn country and would do everything in her power to work towards lasting peace in the region.

Ms Coryton said the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 was 'completely horrendous... but Israel's actions since then have gone too far'. She said Labour has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution, while adding she believes Keir Starmer is the 'perfect person' to lead on the international stage.

Mr Warlow said the Greens are calling for an immediate bilateral ceasefire in Gaza, for senior Israeli officials to be brought before the International Court of Justice and for the UK government to end arms sales to Israel.

Voters will head to the polls to choose who they want to represent them on July 4. Residents who can't go to the polling station on the day must apply for a postal vote by 5pm on June 19.

Got a story? Email charlotte.lillywhite@reachplc.com.

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