Cllr Paul Kohler - Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Wimbledon

The man who led the successful legal challenge against the proposed closure of Wimbledon Police Station and who came a very close second in the 2019 General Election is standing as the Lib Dem candidate to be the next MP for the Wimbledon constituency which includes Raynes Park, Merton Park, Motspur Park, Morden and Old & New Malden.

Cllr Paul Kohler, a Lib Dem councillor for Wimbledon Town and Dundonald Ward, hit the headlines in 2018 when he took the Mayor of London to court over the decision to close Wimbledon Police Station. Cllr Kohler’s case was successful and the closure was halted, pending reconsideration by the Mayor.

The police station campaign helped Cllr Kohler win election in May 2018 as a councillor in central Wimbledon – an election which saw the Lib Dems surge from fourth place to first, almost tripling their vote share - and he was re-elected as a councillor in 2022.

“It is a privilege to be standing to contest the next general election as the Lib Dem candidate for Wimbledon”, said Cllr Kohler. “My wife and I have lived in this constituency, where we raised our four daughters, for almost 30 years. I want to give something back to the community that has been so supportive to us.

“People in Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Merton Park, Motspur Park, Morden and Old & New Malden deserve better than more chaos under the Conservatives who have broken their promises on International Development spending, action on climate change as well as presiding over an economy with high inflation, rising mortgages and rents plus hitting hard-pressed families and small businesses across the Wimbledon constituency with a tax hikes at a time many are still reeling from the impact of the pandemic."

“There is huge appetite for change amongst the voters of Wimbledon who have had enough of Tory mismanagement. I will stand up for our public services like the NHS and schools where our current Tory MP has failed to do so; and I will strive to give a voice to Wimbledon residents who demand better from their government and their MP. The people of Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Merton Park, Motspur Park, Morden and Old & New Malden deserve better than this. They need an MP who they can trust and who will fight for a fairer deal for our area."

Following the results of the local elections in 2022 - where the Liberal Democrats won 23 councillors (out of a total of 33) across the Wimbledon constituency -  and the general election in 2019 when Paul was only 628 voted behind the Conservative, it's clear that the Lib Dems are the only challegers who can beat the Conservatives in Wimbledon. 

Cllr Kohler issued a rallying cry to voters who want a fresh start for their area. “The Lib Dems will win Wimbledon next time”, he said. “If you share my vision for a fair, free and tolerant Wimbledon then I urge you join my campaign. Together we can win in Wimbledon.”

Want to help Paul Kohler win Wimbledon in 2024? Join his campaign today or donate to the campaign here.