Zac Goldsmith claims credit for something that doesn't exist

I always enjoy receiving an occasional email from my former MP Zac Goldsmith.  He has managed to maintain seamless email communication through various guises - Cameroon Liberal Tory, May loyalist Tory, Independent airport campaigner and finally 'Strong and Stable' Brexit Tory - without appearing to trouble those pesky data protection rules at any time.  (Or indeed his own sense of self awareness).

But regardless of this (no doubt Brussels inspired) pettyfogging data protection bureaucracy - I was intrigued to read his claim that: "Here in Canbury, I have worked hard for local residents over the past six years... I campaigned with the Council to deliver free 30 minute parking to help our small shops..."

The thing is there aren't any 30 minute free parking zones in Canbury.   

Now I'm sure this is an honest mistake and not deliberate misinformation on Goldsmith junior's behalf.  Because someone once said, "Deliberately misinforming people is worse than anything that happened in the expenses scandal, because it goes to the heart of democracy. When you're prepared to trick people two weeks before they go to the polls, that is the very lowest kind of politics."

That someone being er... Zac Goldsmith.

Three questions for Zac Goldsmith

In what appears to be a series of orchestrated announcements between Zac Goldsmith and the Conservative heirarchy we now have a by-election in Richmond Park without an official Tory candidate.  Goldsmith has been installed as the bookies favourite standing as an independent on a straight anti-Heathrow expansion ticket.

But despite his frequent assertation that he is an independently minded MP he votes with the Tories more than nine times out of ten.  In fact since we had a full blooded right wing majority Tory government in 2015 he has rebelled just five times out of 146 votes - less than 3.5% of the time.

So, I have three straightforward questions to ask:

1. If he wins the by-election will he take the Tory whip and, if not, will he caucus with his pal UKIP MP Douglas Carswell?
2. Will he seek the Tory nomination in 2020?
3. Will he back Theresa May in a confidence vote?

How Kingston's local paper reported Zac Goldsmith's speeding ban

Last week, Richmond Park MP, Zac Goldsmith, was banned from driving for six months and fined a mere £570 pounds (about 0.1% of his largess to the local Tory Party).

Significant local news one might think?  Obviously not if you are the Surrey Comet/Kingston Guardian...

Perhaps the rumours of a significant investment in the ailing local paper from the Goldsmith family are true after all.

Boy racer Zac Goldsmith admits three speeding offences

The Surrey Comet reports that Richmond Park MP and Tory eco-poster boy has pleaded guilty to three counts of speeding (presumably in his faux-Green Toyota Prius). 

They also report he already has points from previous offences, meaning a driving ban would be expected - or at least it would be for someone without his very highly paid lawyers.

So if he does get a ban - he'll find the Transport for London journey planner really useful.  Unless he decides to employ a chauffeur...

Tim Rice backs UKIP

Leading Richmond Park Tory (oh and Oscar winning musician) Sir Tim Rice has left the Conservatives and is backing UKIP - according to this report from the Daily Mail.

Given Zac Goldsmith's apparently genetically driven anti Europeanism, the fact even he can't keep his local Tory Europhobes on board doesn't bode well for the Tory party's ability to win the Euro elections later this year - even in a Conservative association as financially well endowed as Richmond Park...

Former Liberal MP appears on Antiques Roadshow

Former Richmond Park MP, Jenny Tonge, appeared with a couple of antique Spanish chairs on yesterday's edition.

You can catch the exchange on BBC iplayer here at 41 mins.

Robin Meltzer selected for Richmond Park

Last night the excellent Robin Meltzer was selected by local Lib Dems to fight Richmond Park (and Zac Goldsmith), beating off Jane Dodds and David Rendel. 

It will be interesting to see if David Rendel seeks another nomination given his stated desire to return to Westminster.

Best snowman of the winter?

Spotted while walking the dog in Richmond Park...

David Rendel to return to Parliament?

Ex Newbury MP, David Rendel, is one of three names on the shortlist for the Lib Dem candidate to take on maverick Tory and Euro-loon Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park in 2015.

He is up against local activists Jane Dodds and Robin Meltzer in what is likely to be a close fought and high profile selection campaign.  The result should be known after the final hustings meeting on 25th February.

Sledging in Richmond Park

With schools closing early Richmond Park was the place to be this afternoon...