Every day for the past few weeks, Yvonne Tracey has been walking the streets of New Malden in south-west London. It’s a place she knows well, having lived in just two houses, one street apart, her entire life. An independent councillor for Kingston Council and a former deputy postmistress, she wants to oust the Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey from the seat he has held since 1997 (minus a blip between 2015 and 2017 when he lost it to the Tories). She is visiting two or three streets each day, drumming up support.
When I joined her in the wind and drizzle, it was day ten. James Giles – an independent councillor and leader of the opposition on Kingston Council, on which the Lib Dems make up 43 of the 48 members – is coordinating the campaign. Wearing a custom-made purple rain jacket with “Kingston Independent Residents’ Group” on the back, Giles is well-organised and efficient. He also happens to be Tracey’s grandson.
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