SHOCK WIN

Who is Sarah Olney? New Richmond Park MP who ousted Zac Goldsmith

Brittany Vonow

Published: 9:48, 2 Dec 2016
Updated: 18:45, 2 Dec 2016

Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney took out the Richmond Park by-election

SHE is the woman who ousted Zac Goldsmith from his safe seat of Richmond Park.

38-year-old Sarah Olney overturned the 23,000 majority that Goldsmith held to clinch the by-election, vowing to "defend the Britain we love".

But little is known about the new MP, whose victory has sent ripples through the community - and politics in general.

Sarah Olney will now represent Richmond Park after taking out a majority vote in the by-election

Zac Goldsmith lost the by-election after standing as an independentCredit: PA:Press Association

What is Olney's background?

Born in 1977, Olney went to Surrey Comprehensive School, before going on to study English literature at King’s College London

Olney is a qualified accountant. She has previously worked at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington.

She is also the mother of two children and married to Ben.

The Lib Dems have resources into getting their candidate Sarah Olney, pictured with husband Ben, electedCredit: PA

Why did she go into politics?

Olney joined the Liberal Democrats in 2015.

She was quoted as saying she had never thought about being a politician.

In her victory speech on winning Richmond Park, she said: "A year and a half ago I wasn't involved in politics, I wasn't a member of a political party, I had never been involved in a political campaign, I had never thought about being a politician.

"But I knew I was a liberal. When I saw what happened in the general election last year I felt I had to get involved."

What are Olney's views?

Olney is pro-EU and has promised to vote against Article 50 in Parliament.

She, like her opponent Goldsmith, opposes the building of a third runway at Heathrow airport

The newly elected MP was skewered on radio the morning she was voted in, with the fresh politician bombarded with mischievous questions about when the next referendum to challenge Brexit would be held.

After a series of difficult questions, the interview with abruptly ended with an aide coming on the line, saying she had to leave.

Zac Goldsmith told MPs the decision to back Heathrow was 'wrong' and resigned over the matterCredit: PA

Why was there a by-election in Richmond Park?

The by-election was triggered by Goldsmith’s decision to stand down as an MP in protest against the government’s plans for a new runway at Heathrow Airport.

The MP, who failed to become London mayor in a race against Sadiq Khan, has long-been an opponent of a third runway being built.

After standing down Goldsmith told a school in his constituency: “I promised you if my party won the election, the third runway would be scrapped.

“And I wasn’t making it up.”

He added: “There was no small print, no expiry date, no ambiguity.

“It was a simple promise. And it mattered.

“I know it mattered because the thought of Heathrow expansion fills most of my constituents with dread.”

A Conservative government spokesperson said: “(The government is) taking decisive action in the national interest to secure the UK’s place in the global aviation market – securing jobs and businesses opportunities for the next decade and beyond.”