The Lib Dems are preparing for another by-election following the resignation of MP Zac Goldsmith. Goldsmith resigned his Richmond Park seat on Tuesday in protest against the government’s backing for a new runway at Heathrow Airport.

Richmond Park was a Liberal Democrat seat until 2010, and the party finished second in the 2015 general election.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the party was looking to “build on our result” in the recent Witney by-election, where the Lib Dems reduced the Conservative majority in David Cameron’s former seat to 5,702 – down by more than 20,000 votes.

“Zac Goldsmith has failed Richmond Park on Heathrow and betrayed them on Brexit.”

“Victory for the Lib Dems in Richmond Park would put huge pressure on Theresa May to abandon plans for a disastrous hard Brexit.”