The Liberal Democrats have selected a candidate for Richmond Park in preparation for a general election.

Sarah Olney was selected on July 22 as the party believes new Prime Minister Theresa May might consider going to the country before 2020 to take advantage of Labour in-fighting and to precede a possible recession.

Ms Olney, who campaigned for GLA member Caroline Pidgeon during May’s London Assembly elections, said it would be a huge honour to represent the area.

She said: “However, I am only too well aware that Richmond Park does have its challenges.

"As such my three campaign priorities will be to demand a decision against a third runway at Heathrow, to get clarity around the future status of EU citizens within the UK, and to push for greater action to improve air quality in the constituency.

“Nationally the country is in crisis. The Conservatives are focused entirely on taking us out of Europe while the economy worsens, threatening jobs, public services and our efforts to build the houses Britain so badly needs.

"Frustratingly, Labour is too occupied with their civil war to provide any opposition to the government.”

Ms Olney added that the Lib Dems are well placed to fight a general election as more than 17,500 new members have joined nationally since the Brexit vote on June 23.