The Liberal Democrats’ Luke Taylor won south west London constituency Sutton and Cheam, following nine years of Conservative representation.
The transport planner and Sutton councillor won 17,576 votes, with Conservative Tom Drummond coming second with 13,775 votes.
Labour candidate Chrishni Reshekaron came third with 8,450 votes, despite the party’s overwhelming success elsewhere in the country.
Taylor said: “I’m feeling over-awed and really excited to be able to get to work trying to get a better deal for the residents of Sutton and Cheam.
“It’s a historic night for the country after so many years of brutal cuts to public services, cuts to the NHS, the police and local government.
“Now is the time to set things right and to deliver real change.”
He said he planned to continue supporting residents through the living and energy crises and push for better funding for public services.
When asked how he was planning on celebrating, Taylor added: “I’m going to go to bed and potentially not knock on any doors tomorrow which will be a nice surprise.”
From 2015 to 2024, the seat was held by Conservative Paul Scully, who made headlines earlier this year when he described parts of London and Birmingham as “no-go areas”.
Shortly after the incident, Scully announced he would not be seeking re-election, creating an opening for the Liberal Democrats, who had previously held the seat for 18 years.
Drummond ran on an anti-ULEZ campaign, while Reshekaron’s campaign focused on the reduction of violence against women and girls.
Taylor was not selected to represent the Liberal Democrats until May this year, after the previous candidate, former BBC journalist David Campanale, was controversially deselected in 2022.
Campanale is currently suing the party, claiming he was the victim of discrimination over his Christian beliefs.
Speaking to South West Londoner before the election, Taylor said: “I was aware of the deselection and it is a very sad situation.
“I know that there’s an appeal in process on the deselection but I don’t have time to think and worry about that — I believe that HQ are looking after all of that.”
Taylor’s victory is part of the Lib Dems’ wider success in Sutton borough and South West London in general, with wins in Carshalton and Wallington, Wimbledon, Richmond Park, Twickenham and Kingston and Surbiton.
The party has secured 70 seats nationally.
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