Who is Steve Tuckwell; the Tory MP who takes over Boris’ constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip?

Rishi Sunak this morning is facing questions regarding the results of yesterday’s by-elections; Labour won Selby and Ainsty and in doing so made history by having the youngest MP elected with Keir Mather, and the Lib Dems took Somerton and Frome, prompting some Tory member to express a concern ahead of a General Election.

But it wasn’t all bad news for Sunak, with the Tory’s holding their seat in the highly publicised battle for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, the former constituency of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. But even then, it was a tightly fought contest that once again raises questions about how long the Tory government may last in power.

Steve Tuckwell won the seat for the Conservatives, continuing their dominance in the area since the constituency was created in 2010 and won by then Tory MP John Randall, with Boris Johnson taking over the seat from 2015 to his stepping down earlier this year. But the results also showed that the party lost 7.4 of their swing to Labour candidate Danny Beales.

In the end, Tuckwell won the by-election by 13,965 votes, earning 45.2 percent of the vote, but Beales himself was only 495 votes behind him with 13,470 votes, earning 43.6 after a recount of the votes. In somewhat of a surprise, Reclaim party leader Lawrence Fox earned 714 votes, placing him fourth in what the party will claim is a victory for their political ideology.

So who is Steve Tuckwell, the new MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and what have been his thoughts on the highly contentious ULEZ plan that seems to be dominating local politics in the London and greater London area?

Who is the new MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Steve Tuckwell?

Regarded as an active and dedicated community figure with strong ties to Hillingdon, Tuckwell was elected as the Ward Councillor for South Ruislip in 2018, where he has been actively supporting residents on various issues. As a lifelong resident of Hillingdon, Steve shares a home with his partner Rachel and their two children, both of whom attended local schools in Ruislip.

Steve's commitment to his community is evident through his involvement in numerous Council Committees and his recent appointment as Hillingdon's Mental Health Champion, demonstrating his concern for residents' well-being. He also serves as a Community Governor for Ruislip High School and takes on the role of Chairman for a local scout group, exemplifying his dedication to the growth and development of local youth.

Throughout his campaign, Steve's focus has been on advocating for the concerns of his constituents. He has emphasised opposition to the ULEZ expansion, expressing the belief that it will disproportionately impact those already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The issue of ULEZ has resonated significantly with local residents, transcending party lines and even gaining support from staunch Labour supporters.

In addition to his stance on ULEZ, Steve is vocal in opposing the expansion of Heathrow, citing concerns about its impact on the local road network, noise levels, and environmental goals. He also envisions a fully operational police station with 20,000 police officers to provide not only more jobs but also a place for the community to seek advice and raise queries.

Despite being the Conservative candidate, Steve's campaign literature deliberately avoids mentioning Rishi Sunak by name and omits the party logo, as he aims to convey his identity as a local community figure. Nonetheless, he proudly represents the Conservative party and sees the by-election as a crucial "referendum on ULEZ" and a chance to address key local issues.