Richmond has reacted to the Liberal Democrats’ shock win in the Richmond Park and North Kingston by-election in which they overturned a 23,000 majority to unseat Zac Goldsmith.

The Richmond and Twickenham Green party hailed the impact of the ‘progressive alliance’ of Left-leaning parties.

A party spokesperson said: “The Green party’s decision to stand down and the huge drop in the Labour party vote show that people will vote tactically.

“It proves that there is a huge appetite and a need for proportional representation so that people can express a real preference at elections.

“In Sarah Olney, we now have an MP who will push for the electoral reform that we so urgently need.

“We look forward to working with the Liberal Democrats, Women’s Equality party and the Labour party in a progressive alliance for the 2018 local elections and the next general election.”

MORE: Huge shock as Sarah Olney defeats Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park and North Kingston by-election

Anti-Heathrow expansion group HACAN welcomed Ms Olney’s commitment to continue the fight the third runway.

But the group’s chair, John Stewart – who said on Thursday anything but a victory for Mr Goldsmith would be an “amber light” for expansion – said Ms Olney’s victory would make it seem that Heathrow was not the byelection’s central issue.

He said: “Theresa May is likely to sleep easier in her bed after this result as the people of a key constituency in West London don’t seem to have seen the third runway as the decisive issue in the campaign.”

MORE: MP for Carshalton and Wallington Tom Brake says win by Lib Dems' Sarah Olney was thanks to Brexit

Jill Lorimer, Richmond branch leader of the Women’s Equality party, welcomed the Lib Dem win, saying the party was proud it backed the “best candidate” for Richmond Park.

Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis congratulated Ms Olney, but lamented the loss of Mr Goldsmith in parliament as a “great shame”.

He said: “I must thank Zac for the tireless work he has done over the past six years as MP for Richmond Park.

“I am sure Zac will find a future role in public life and continue to contribute to the area I know he cares deeply about.”