Zac Goldsmith, Independent: If I lose, Heathrow will declare victory

In 2010, when I was standing for election for the first time, David Cameron told west London residents: “No ifs, no buts, there will be no third runway.”

Although it was music to many ears, not everyone believed him, so I followed his promise with my own. I said that if my party changed its position, I would resign as local MP to trigger a byelection and give my constituents a chance to vote again. It was a simple promise, with no small print. And I know that many residents voted for me on the back of it. So when my party broke its promise, I kept mine.

I believe we will win this battle. In addition to the noise, cost, air pollution and appalling congestion implications, the sheer complexity involved in building the third runway means that with the right campaign, it is unlikely ever to happen. I will do all I can to make sure of it.

This byelection is happening for one reason only: it is our chance to speak as one – to send a message via the ballot box both to Heathrow and the government.

There is a reason why the Heathrow villagers whose homes will be destroyed, and all the key anti-Heathrow expansion campaign groups are actively backing me to win. They know that I am the best bet we have of stopping expansion. They also know that if I lose, Heathrow will declare victory.

I’m standing as an independent candidate in this byelection, and am asking residents to give me a clear mandate to return to parliament to keep fighting on their behalf – just as I have as an MP for the last six years on this and so many other issues.

As an independent MP, I will work constructively with government, supporting them when they get it right, holding them to account when they get it wrong – but always delivering for my constituents.

Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrats: A Lib Dem victory could kill off hard Brexit

The people of Richmond Park and North Kingston have Britain’s future in their hands. And a vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to protect Britain’s place in Europe, sending a powerful demand to the Conservative Brexit government to remain in the single market and give people a say on the final deal. It will also show that people will not let the Tories run down our NHS, or break their promises over Heathrow.

Many Labour supporters have told us how angry they are with their party for caving in to the Conservatives on Europe. Their leaflets fail to mention voting against hard Brexit.

Local people are frightened about the £220bn black hole in public finances caused by the divisive and irresponsible Conservatives yanking Britain out of the single market. This risks 5,000 local jobs in financial services, while 8,000 public sector workers will be £2,000 a year poorer due to Brexit inflation. That is the livelihoods of real people, endangered by Conservative recklessness and Labour indifference.

Even the Labour candidate admits that Labour voters recognise only the Lib Dems can beat Zac Goldsmith, whose voting record is even more anti-Europe than Liam Fox’s. In our positive, powerful campaign we have spoken to more than 40,000 local people. They understand that only the Liberal Democrats are campaigning to keep Britain open, tolerant and united.

Some 35 years ago, Shirley Williams stunned Margaret Thatcher by winning the Crosby byelection. Liberal Democrats have a history of famous byelection triumphs, but this would be the most important yet. Our victory at Ribble Valley killed off the poll tax. A victory for the Liberal Democrats here could kill off hard Brexit.

Christian Wolmar, Labour: Labour would reflect constituents’ Brexit concerns

This rather strange byelection is the result of the failure of the local MP, Zac Goldsmith, to win over his party to his opposition to Heathrow expansion. As a result, he has wanted it to be a referendum on Heathrow but it is anything but. Heathrow has barely figured on the doorstep. The key issue for local people is clearly Brexit, which is hardly surprising in a constituency that voted 70% in favour of remain.

And I understand their concern. Nothing put forward by the Brexiteers bodes well for Britain. From the dodgy Nissan deal to reports that 30,000 civil servants will be needed to extricate ourselves from membership, the news is unequivocally worrying.

Therefore, if elected, I would campaign tirelessly to try to ensure that we stay in the EU. I do not understand those who say that the referendum result is final. It was a defeat in a battle but the war is not lost. There is such a long process ahead that throwing in the towel at this stage would be premature and defeatist.

Local people have been delighted to see a strong Labour party presence in this campaign and the key lesson here is that there are no “no go” areas for Labour. I have been pleasantly surprised that there is such a solid bedrock of Labour supporters in this constituency. Not all of them always vote Labour because of tactical voting. Persuading them that there is a real Labour presence which can, over time, make a difference will be the key legacy of this campaign.