Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election: The candidates vying to replace Boris Johnson as MP
There are 17 candidates vying to replace the former prime minister as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip - from those representing the main parties, to well-known outsiders like Laurence Fox and Piers Corbyn.
Tuesday 18 July 2023 13:13, UK
The Tories face a battle to hold onto a key seat following the resignation of Boris Johnson.
There are 17 candidates vying to replace the former prime minister as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip after he quit over the Privileges Committee's judgement that he lied over partygate.
The by-election will take place on Thursday - when two more contests will also be held in what could shape up to be a miserable day for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
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The west London constituency has been controlled by the Conservatives since its creation in 2010, but their small majority gives Labour a shot at a seat well within the swings (around eight points) they have already achieved in this parliament.
However Labour has insisted it is taking nothing for granted amid a split over expanding London's ultra low emissions zone (ULEZ).
The length of the ballot paper could also be a problem for the main parties as it gives voters plenty of options other than Labour, ranging from UKIP, which has done well here in the past, to Piers Corbyn (brother of Jeremy), and Laurence Fox.
Here, Sky News looks at the main candidates seeking to replace Boris Johnson.
Danny Beales - Labour
Mr Beales is a Camden councillor who grew up in Uxbridge.
He had a difficult upbringing in the area. His single mother worked two jobs but was made redundant, which left the family homeless twice during his childhood.
Mr Beales says his experience of poverty is what shaped his desire to get into politics at an early age. Now 34, he has spent the last nine years as a councillor for the London Borough of Camden and also worked as head of policy for the National Aids Trust.
Mr Beales, who is projected to win, has focused his campaign to become an MP on NHS waiting lists, the cost-of-living crisis and housing.
He has also spoken out against the expansion of ULEZ, amid fears it could hamper his party's chances in the seat.
Steve Tuckwell - Conservatives
Mr Tuckwell is also honing in on his local credentials in a bid to win over voters.
The former postie is a lifelong resident of South Ruislip and has represented the area as a ward councillor since 2018.
He has sought to distance himself from Mr Johnson by focusing his campaign on local issues, declaring the vote a "referendum" on ULEZ - the controversial plan to expand the zone where people have to pay a £12.50 daily fee to drive in London if their car does not meet emission standards.
Mr Tuckwell argues the charge will devastate businesses and cost families up to £4,500 a year.
He has admitted a win will be difficult with Labour currently eight points ahead, but said he is working "incredibly hard" to secure a victory.
Blaise Baquiche - Liberal Democrat
Mr Baquiche said he wants to send a "personal" message to the Tories about partygate at the election.
He said he lost his father to COVID "in the very week that Boris Johnson partied" and called his lack of contrition "sickening".
Mr Baquiche was previously a policy adviser to the Conservatives, but left the party in 2017 and now works as an independent writer and EU policy adviser.
Despite the Lib Dems trailing behind the Conservatives and Labour in past elections in this constituency, he has vowed to go "hell for leather" to win - while the party has ruled out a tactical pact with Labour to oust the Tories.
Sarah Green - Green party
Ms Green is an anti-HS2 protester who previously ran for the Greens in the neighbouring constituency of Ruislip Northwood and Pinner.
She also campaigns to save water from contamination and says a vote for her is a vote to "spread the green message".
Laurence Fox - Reclaim Party
While each of the main parties have put forward a candidate, there are also some well known outsiders in the race to replace Mr Johnson.
That includes Reclaim Party leader and former actor Laurence Fox.
Mr Fox, who has previously run for London mayor, helped found the Reclaim Party in 2020 in order "to fight culture wars".
He entered the race to replace Mr Johnson after agreeing a "mutual cooperation agreement" with Reform UK, the pro-Brexit party founded by Nigel Farage.
His campaign is centred on offering a "genuine alternative" to the two main political parties, who he has accused of offering the same policies.
Piers Corbyn - Let London Live
Another well-known outsider is Piers Corbyn, the older brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The high-profile COVID conspiracy theorist was arrested repeatedly at anti-lockdown protests during the pandemic and before that was known for being a weather presenter and climate change denier.
He is running for the Let London Live party and has claimed he is the candidate for "real change".
Several other candidates have thrown their hat into the race to run as independents or for lesser known parties. They are:
Cameron Bell - Independent
Cameron Bell, a full-time tennis coach from South Ruislip, is running to be an independent MP
Count Binface - Count Binface Party
Comedian Jon Harvey will stand as Count Binface, a self-proclaimed Intergalactic space lord who stood against Mr Johnson at the last election in 2019.
Richard Hewison - Rejoin EU
Anti-Brexit campaigner Richard Hewison is running for the Rejoin EU party.
Rebecca Jane - UKIP
Deputy leader of the UK Independence Party who found fame when she set up The Real Lady Detective Agency.
Enomfon Ntefon - Christian People's Alliance
Ms Ntefon has lived in Uxbridge for the past 12 years working as a community nurse, and also heads the local group "Mum's against Youth Crime".
Leo Phaure - Independent
A father and business analyst born and bred in Uxbridge who has branded himself "no ULEZ Leo".
77 Joseph - Independent
In a video provided to the BBC, independent candidate 77 Joseph said he was entering the race to "get Brexit sorted".
Kingsley Hamilton - Independent
Bus driver Kingsley Hamilton is another anti-ULEZ candidate.
Ed Gemmell - Climate Party
Ed Gemmell is the leader of the Climate Party and currently sits as an independent councillor for Buckinghamshire Council.
Steve Gardner - Social Democratic Party
Local man and Gulf War Veteran Steve Gardner is the candidate for the Social Democratic Party.
Howling Hope - Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Howling Hope is the leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party and has encouraged people that don't usually vote to "vote unusually, vote for me".