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In the run up to the Uxbridge by-election, the Conservative Party appears to be passing off a councillor as an ordinary member of the public Josiah Mortimer 17 July 2023 Boris Johnson with

Cllr Heena Makwana (left). Photo: No 10 NEWSLETTER OFFER Subscribe to our newsletter for EXCLUSIVE editorial emails from the _Byline Times _Team. The local Conservative party in the seat

Boris Johnson has abandoned over parliament’s partygate lies report has been accused of misleading voters. In a leaflet, the Uxbridge and South Ruislip Conservative party claimed support

from a local ‘English teacher’ – who is in fact a Conservative councillor and chair of the education committee on the Tory-run council.  Councillor Heena Makwana, who was a keen supporter of

Boris Johnson, features on a recent leaflet handed out to Uxbridge residents. In her quote, she claims local candidate for the MP seat Steve Tuckwell “chose to start his family here. And

that’s because he knows how special our local area is. He will fight for our community because he’s part of our community.”  _Byline Times _ran the image on the leaflet through two facial

comparison websites which found the ‘English teacher’ was a certain match with the local Hillingdon frontbencher.  Local parent Orest Bakhovski told _Byline Times _the leaflet was

“definitely” misleading and should have identified her as a senior local Tory.  DON’T MISS A STORY Also appearing on the leaflet is Sir Ray Puddifoot, listed as a “Former Council Leader.” 

Sir Ray said: “Steve Tuckwell has lived in Uxbridge and Ruislip all his life. And he’s been standing up for local people all his life. As a Hillingdon councillor, he’s helped to secure new

investment, create new jobs and represent local people’s views.” The former Tory council leader for two decades until 2014 oversaw austerity cuts under the Conservatives.  Vice President of

the Union of Brunel Students Archan Raval is also featured on the leaflet. Raval praised then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out policy during the pandemic – now widely credited

with pushing inflation and increasing coronavirus infections – in an interview this March.  A source close to the Labour campaign said: “Oh dear. It’s a sorry state of affairs for the local

Tories when they have to pass off their own councillors as endorsers because they can’t find anyone else.” Uxbridge and South Ruislip is one of three areas holding by-elections to replace

their departing Tory MPs on Thursday (July 21). Boris Johnson quit in the outer London seat after the damning privileges committee report which found he had deliberately lied to parliament

over his attendance at lockdown-breaking parties in No 10 during coronavirus restrictions.   Labour is trying to overturn the Tory majority there but faces a tough battle over London Labour

mayor Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to cover all of the capital. The policy will see more drivers in London charged £12.50 a day if they use older diesel or

petrol cars, a major cause of pollution.  Half of Londoners do not drive but the figure is lower in Outer London where public transport offerings are poorer. Labour’s candidate Danny Beales

has distanced himself from the policy and called for a delay.  Both Labour and Lib Dems are tactically channelling resources for the forthcoming by-elections, eyeing Tory-held seats. But

there’s no sign of a formal pact Josiah Mortimer In Somerton and Frome (Somerset), the Lib Dems will try to take the seat from the Conservatives after David Warburton stood down following a

parliamentary investigation into his conduct. Warburton admitted taking cocaine but denied allegations of sexual misconduct launched by a former female staffer.  And in Selby and Ainsty,

Labour will try to take the seat from the Conservatives’ 20,000 majority, after Johnson-loyalist Nigel Adams resigned following the parliamentary partygate report. Uxbridge and South Ruislip

Conservatives and Cllr Makwana were contacted for comment.  ------------------------- _DO YOU HAVE A STORY THAT NEEDS HIGHLIGHTING? GET IN TOUCH_ _BY EMAILING [email protected]_