Labour claim the Conservatives are no longer relevant in south west London, after the Liberal Democrat's victory last week saw their candidate Ron Mushiso drop to third place.

Gareth Roberts was elected to London Assembly's South West seat with 66,675 votes, becoming the constituency's first non-Conservative representative since its creation 24 years ago.

Labour's Marcela Benedetti and the Conservative's Ron Mushiso followed in second and third with 50,656 and 49,981 votes respectively.

Emboldened by their close lead over the Conservatives on their home turf and third consecutive mayoral win, Kingston & Surbiton Labour declared in a recent statement: "The Conservatives are not contenders."

Labour's Marcela Benedetti, seen here with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, came second with 50,656 votes in the recent election. (Photo: Marcela Benedetti)

While the party has historically performed poorly in the area, a party spokesperson said Ms. Benedetti's "significant strides in the South West London Assembly seat [...] underscores the strong support Labour has in Kingston".

Despite the defeat of both their mayoral and assembly candidates, Conservatives in the borough remain confident for the upcoming general election, calling Kingston & Surbiton "a three horse race".

Conservative candidate Ron Mushiso came third in the London Assembly electionsm with 49,981 votes. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

However, Helen Edward, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Kingston and Surbiton said in a recent statement: "The only options for the country are a Conservative or Labour majority."

"In Kingston and Surbiton, a vote for the Lib Dems would be a wasted vote as they will never win a general election," she continued.

She added: "Standing up for our community is always going to be my aim, not playing party political games."

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson responded to Labour's statement, saying: "While Labour got a high vote in their stronghold of Hounslow, in the rest of south west London, it was a clear fight between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives."

Liberal Democrat councillor Gareth Roberts will represent south west London at the London Assembly. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

The party is hopeful to continue their success in Kingston & Surbiton in the general election, saying: "On the doorstep we heard time and time again that people want to get rid of this chaotic and uncaring Conservative government."

"Labour have always come a distant third in general elections [in Kingston and Surbiton], and voting for them just risks letting a Tory MP slip in again," they continued. 

"In this constituency, the safe choice for people who want the Tories out of Westminster is to vote Liberal Democrat."

The next general election must be held by 28 January 2025, although Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he expected to call the election in the second half of 2024 earlier this year.

Despite strong statements from Kingston's major parties, it remains to be seen how the results of May's local elections will reflect the nation's choices when they next go to the polls.

Votes from south west London being verified at St Mary's University on 3 May 2024. (Photo: Hounslow Council)